20
—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 8, 1973
Inspectors Finding Antibiotic
Today’s dairyman sells more
than just milk.
Adding to the income he
receives each year is the money a
dairyman obtains from culling
his cows and selling calves for
veal. Thus, a dairyman’s job is
twofold - first, the production of
milk products, and second, the
marketing of meat. In both, he
has the responsibility of
producing quality products for
the consumer.
This dual role is a matter of
increasing concern to the U. S.
Department of Agriculture.
Recent surveys conducted by the
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service have shown
that certain classes of culled
dairy cows and veal calves
contain antibiotic residues in
their internal organs and-or
muscle tissue at the time of
slaughter.
Current practice for some
dairymen is to send culled
animals, including their mastitis
and “downer” cattle, to market.
But in order to get animals in
questionable health to market,
some farmers are relying on
antibiotics. The cows are injected
with a large dose of a drug, and
immediately sent to auction with
no consideration given to the
required withdrawal period.
Many of these dairy cows are
used for the production of
processed meat products.
Some of these animals are
spotted at the slaughter plant
before they are killed, and are
condemned on the spot. Those
that make it past the ante mor
tem inspection in a federally
inspected plant are examined a
second time after they are killed.
Alert inspectors readily spot the
marks of drug injections. Parts of
the carcass containing residues
are then cut away and destroyed.
If residues are present
throughout the carcass, the
entire carcass may be con
demned.
Dairymen who raise veal
calves appear to be injecting and
or feeding these calves an
tibiotics more frequently hoping
to avoid illness as they go to
market. This is especially true of
claves raised during the winter
months.
Treated calves must be with
drawn from durgs a sufficient
time to allow the complete
disappearance of antibiotics
before slaughter. However, many
times they are not.
Since the slaughtering in
spection carried out on calves is
essentially the same as for cows,
the condemnation of all or part of
a veal carcass may occur and
result in a financial loss.
Ultimately, this loss will be borne
by the producer and the industry.
The consequences a dairy
farmer may face from such
Residues in Dairy Carcasses
antibiotic misuse are therefore
damaging not only to himself but
to the future profits of the dairy
industry.
Once an animal is found to
contain a residue, the USDA
inspects all herdmates until it
can be determined that the
animals from that source are
being properly withdrawn from
drugs.
But that’s only the beginning. A
producer caught in this situation
may find himself without a
market for his animals in the
future, or, at best, may find he is
offered less for them as a result
of the buyer’s reaction to the
problem.
There may be an even more
drastic consequence. The Food
and Drug Administration can
prosecute the producer or others
responsible for the illegal residue
for violation of the Food, Drug
and Cosmetic Act. The first
conviction may bring a
maximum fine of $l,OOO and-or
one year in jail. 'Hie second
conviction brings a maximum
fine of $lO,OOO and-or a three-year
sentence.
What would a dairyman do
without any antibiotics? Yes, that
could happen too. Approval of
these medications is contingent
on assurance that their use will
not result in residues.
If residues for a particular
drug continue to exceed the legal
In the Kitchen
BARBECUED BURGERS
1 lb. ground beef
1 tsp. monosodium
glutamate
% tep. salt
V* tap. pepper
1 tbsp. unaulphured
molasses
1 tbsp. prepared mustard
1 tsp. vinegar
Break up meat with fork in
mixing bowl; sprinkle with
monosodium glutamate, salt
and pepper. Toss gently with
fork to distribute ingredients.
Combine unsulphured molas
ses, mustard and vinegar;
combine with meat mikture.
Form into four patties. Grill
to desired doneness.
limit, the FDA can withdraw it
from the market. This happened
in the case of the hormone-like
growth stimulant
diethylstiibestrol, commonly
known as DES.
There is a way to prevent these
drastic steps. Don’t abuse the use
of drugs! Be sure not to exceed
the recommended dosage and
follow withdrawal times to the
letter.
Each antibiotic has a specific
withdrawal requirement in
dicating when its use should be
discontinued on an animal before
slaughter. If no time is given, the
dairyman should consult a
veterinarian, or allow 60 days for
withdrawal to be safe.
Antibiotics can help keep a cow
and calf healthy. Observing with
drawal times will keep an
tibiotics available for animal
treatments. That’s one important
key to maintaining a dairyman’s
income for both milk and meat.
o \ /yA
If 1
"Ever since I sterfed using McNess Silage
Booster she just can't steo to wait."
IF CATTLE CAN GET THERE THEY WILL WHEN
IT'S TREATED WITH McNESS SILAGE BOOSTER
NOT CORROSIVE EASY TO APPLY
PREVENT WASTE AND SPOILAGE
ONLY $175.00 FOR A 20 X 60 SILO
PRESERVE UP TO $lO.OO WORTH OF PROTEIN
WITH EACH $l.OO INVESTED
WRITE
McNESS ,
BOX 140 EAST EARL, PA. 17519
PHONE 215-445-6983 717-733-7541
Southern Lancaster Countyk
fastest-growing bank
has grown its first branch!
Witch for the grand opening, sometime around October I.
Fix-it Tip
For those homes without
air conditioners, a large fan
is a must to help keep the
house cool. A house becomes
hot as the heat builds up
during the day and remains
trapped indoors even though
outdoor temperatures are
dropping.
Open doors and windows
at night and turn on a win
dow fan to draw out the
heat and draw in the cool
night air. Close the windows
in the morning and draw
shades to keep the sun from
reheating the air in the
house.
With houses that have an
attic, a worthwhile invest
ment is a ceiling-type fan
that is mounted in a hall
way. The exhaust fan will
draw great quantities of air
from the house and force it
through the louvres around
the house. Lower temper
atures in the attic will help
keep the home cool.