Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes are animal waste borne pathogens. The study aimed to determine if the basic dietary nutrient composition affected total E. coli and Listeria load and concentration in dairy cow feces. Twelve Holstein cows were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of 2 forage levels [37 (LF) vs. 53% (HF)] and 2 CP levels [15.2 (LP) vs. 18.5% (HP)] in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with 4 periods. After a 14 d adaptation period, total feces mass (kg/cow/d) was determined using total collection approach for 3 d. Six fecal samples were collected periodically to represent the course of a day. Dry matter intake (kg/cow/d), and E. coli and Listeria concentrations in all feed ingredients were measured to determine pathogen intake via feed. Pathogen concentrations in solid samples were determined as colony forming units (cfu) per gram according to the Bacteriological Analytical Manual recommended by US FDA. Total pathogen load was calculated based on the pathogen concentration and feces mass. Treatment effects were analyzed by a mixed model with the random effect of cow. Concentration of E. coli and Listeria were measured for all feed ingredients. Estimated average E. coli and Listeria concentrations in LF and HF diets were 1.4 × 10⁶ and 1.9 × 10⁶, and 3.8 × 10⁴ and 5.4 × 10⁴ cfu/kg of DM, respectively. Interaction effects between dietary fiber and CP contents were found for both E.coli concentration (P < 0.05) and load (P < 0.01) in feces. Fecal E. coli concentration and load were greater (P < 0.05) in HFHP (5.4 × 10⁶ cfu/g and 6.4 × 10¹⁰ cfu, respectively) than HFLP (3.1 × 10⁶ cfu/g and 3.64 × 10¹⁰ cfu, respectively). Greater dietary CP content significantly decreased fecal concentration of Listeria regardless of dietary fiber content (P < 0.01). Concentration of Listeria was higher in LP (110.5 cfu/g) than HP (68.2 cfu/g). There was no association between DM, CP, NDF, or starch of feces and E. coli or Listeria. Dietary forage and CP interactively affect the concentration and total load of E. coli. Only dietary CP level affects concentration of Listeria in the feces of dairy cows.