ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Alta. – Fewer than 400 Canadian farms have been accredited under the Verified Beef Production program, but an Alberta co-ordinator says a few changes could make it more palatable.
The program, which is administered by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, is designed to promote food safety by outlining safe production practices.
Alberta co-ordinator Eileen Leslie said reducing the time required by producers for record keeping and increasing program funding may boost the program’s value.
The national program is voluntary, but Alberta feedlots must complete the program by July 2010 and cow-calf operations by July 2013 as part of the provincial meat and livestock strategy announced earlier this year.
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The first step is attending a two-hour workshop where producers receive a 30 page manual that includes record forms and an outline of what must be done to comply and what is optional.
During a producer day at Rocky Mountain House, Leslie detailed what is expected in the cow-calf program. Most requirements deal with handling medications, observing withdrawal times, keeping records of all procedures and understanding labels.
A new style of needle for administering medications is available that is less likely to break or bend.
They can be found by metal detection systems when cattle are processed, unlike stainless steel needles.
The new needles are available at farm supply stores and from veterinarians. If the syringe comes up with a missing needle, producers should assume it is in the animal. Identify the animal and inform the next buyer.
Most drugs can be given under the skin in the neck area. A drug may have to go in several times so try to move around the area to avoid going into the same spot and causing inflammation or an abscess.
“The rule of thumb is the width of a man’s hand between injection sites,” Leslie said.
When animals are slaughtered, the injection sites can be visible and cause toughness in the meat.
Syringes should be calibrated every year to make sure they are delivering the correct amount of medication. They will deteriorate over time if they are not cleaned properly.
Labels on all licensed products in Canada are required to provide the same information.
There should be a drug identification number beside the name of the product, which describes what it is for and how it should be stored.
Medications are expensive and may not work properly if stored incorrectly. For example, a vaccine could become toxic if it freezes.
“This is one of the most overlooked elements,” Leslie said.
Don’t leave products in the sunlight on a window sill because it can alter the product. Vaccines can be stored in the refrigerator at 2 to 7 C.
Discard expired or spoiled drugs without contaminating the environment.
“When a product changes colour or consistency, do not use it,” she said.
If an animal is treated with the wrong product, identify the animal and record the incident and the action taken, which may include contacting the vet.
It is still legal to buy medications at farm supply stores. Staff is supposed to be trained on how to use these products, but many may not be.
“You may be talking to an employee who was hired yesterday,” Leslie said. “Read the label yourself.”
The cattlemen’s association website carries a list of 600 products and labels. Visit www.beefsafety.ab.ca for details.
Another area often overlooked is the time a treated animal must wait before slaughter. In Canada, the longest withdrawal is 60 days. Many new products have longer withdrawal periods because the drug stays in the animal’s fat.
Also, dosages may change on commonly used brands as they are updated. If the dosage is doubled, the official withdrawal time also changes but does not necessarily double.
Producers who use a medication off label must get a prescription from a veterinarian so they can calculate dosage levels and withdrawal times.
A verbal prescription is initially adequate, but the vet should be asked to put it in writing. Keep copies of veterinary prescriptions used in the last two years.
All these activities need to be recorded. The program asks the date, animal identification, reason for treating, product used, dosage and how it was administered.
Cattle buyers need to know what medications were used to avoid future withdrawal problems and residues in meat.
Read labels on purchased feed to avoid giving non-ruminant feed to cattle.
Pet, poultry, horse and hog feed may still contain ruminant meat and bone meal, so these should be stored separately from cattle feed.
If protein feed was purchased from a large mill, packaging should contain a prohibited feed label and an affidavit to ensure the product is correct.
The label may say the feed contains protein but not designate its origin – it could be grain tailings or chicken feathers.
Mineral blocks may use a protein as a binding agent so read the label to check its origin.
Cow-calf producers interested in the program should first participate in a workshop and then request an audit. The auditor looks at six months worth of records.
The program costs $500 but until the end of this year it is $250. Feedlots using medicated feed are charged $1,000.
Audits and record checks are conducted on an eight year cycle. The first year is a full scale audit followed by seven years of record assessment and self declarations.
However, a lottery process may select a producer for a random audit paid for by the government.
