INTRODUCTION
An experiment was conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Center, Lethbridge, Alberta, to evaluate the effect of Tasco^® on the control of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in feedlot cattle.

RESULTS
In the present study, supplementation of cattle diets with 2% Tasco^® for 7 days (T2-7)and 1% Tasco^® for 14 days (T1-14) was found to reduce the intensity of fecal shedding of E .coli O157:H7 compared to control. Levels of E. coli O157:H7 in the feces of steers in T1-14 and T2-7 were lower than levels measured in the control group.
CONCLUSION
Since contamination of cattle at slaughter is an important source of contamination for meat, a reduction in the shedding of E. coli O157:H7 prior to slaughter would be an important factor in reducing the number of E. coli O157:H7-positive cattle entering slaughter plants, minimizing carcass contamination and increasing the safety of our food supply.

Samples taken from fecal pats from the animal pens suggests that Tasco^® treatment also may reduce the viability of the organism in the environment reducing the potential for recontamination and spreading of the infection to other animals.