By Lawrence Hutchinson
Professor of Veterinary Science
Extension at Penn State
and Sharon Harmon
Resident Assistant in
Veterinary Science at Penn State
UNIVERSITY PARK - In
December of 1982, a survey was
taken of Wisconsin dairymen who
had experienced a drug residue
violation in a calf they had sold
during the year. The purpose of the
survey was to determine cause of,
attitude toward, and possible
solutions to the drug residue
problem in bob veal dairy calves,
which are calves slaughtered at
less than 30 days of age.
In answer to the question, “Did
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Preventing drug residues
you inform the buyer that the calf
had been treated 7 ”, the following
responses were obtained;
• “We never thought about it
because the calf was very healthy.
We gave it a pill so it wouldn’t get
scours in shipping.
• “I only gave the calf a couple of
pills. I didn’t think there would be a
residue.”
• “I shipped the calf without
knowing my wife give it
medication.”
• “The wrong calf was given
medication. I didn’t know the one
sold was medicated.”
• “We thought it would go for a
feeder, and forgot about the pill.”
• “I didn’t think it would show.”
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These answers show that many
producers still don’t icalize that
even one pill can cause a residue
and that the instructions for
withdrawal times should always be
followed.
Many young calves - both
hiefers and bulls - go directly to
slaughter from the auctions barn.
The responses to the second
question, “Were you surprised it
went to slaughter 7”, show a lack of
awareness in the calf marketing
industry:
• “I thought it would go for
replacement.” “It was a heifer.”
•“I was surprised someone
didn’t buy the heifer calf to raise as
a replacement.” and
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• “Because it looked good tor a
replacement ”
The following remarks were
made when respondents were
asked for any other information or
comments.
•“I didn’t pay attention to
directions on the jar, and I got two
types of pills mixed up.”
• “I don’t think one sulfa pill
hurts as much as the other
preservatives put into meat. Why
are we even allowed to ship such
young calves when there is hardly
apy meat on them 9 ”
• “Farming is hell!”
• “This was a medication I had
never used on bull calves and I
simply didn’t realize there would
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Lancaster Farming Saturday, June 1,1985-D3l
8
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be residue. Now I know.”
• “Allowing a calf to get scours
or pneumonia is very costly to a
farmer. So, I imagine all farmers
are using some source of
preventative measures with their
replacements.”
• “The drug previously used had
a seven-day withdrawal and I
didn’t realize the Neo-Sul junior
has 30-day withdrawal.”
• “We were busy harvesting
corn. About three or four members
of the family fed calves during this
busy time. I was not aware the calf
was even treated.”
These answers were given to the
question, “What do you believe to
be the cause of most drug
residues’”:
• ‘ ‘ People simply forget. ’ ’
• “I don’t believe that all far
mers really believe that one or two
little pills will possibly cause a
residue problem big enough to be
dangerous.”
• “Routine treatment of any
calves with antibiotics is the mam
cause.”
• “You have no choice. Either let
your calves die or treat them.”
• “The government standard on
drug residues is too high.”
• “I think more farmers are
raising more calves in crowded
places. When they do that, they run
into more disease problems, so
they use more drugs.”
The following responses were
given as possible remedies to the
situation;
• “County seminars, like
pesticide seminars, would help.”
• “More information should be
made available.”
• “I think we should continue
what’s being done. Most farmers
don’t think enough about it until
they have a problem. I know I will
be much more careful and never
send another one to market until
I’m sure it’s safe.”
• “More research and education
should be mandatory.”
• “Try to develop drugs with
shorter withdrawal periods so you
don’t have to hang on to the calves
so long afterwards. ’ ’
• “Restrictions (on medications)
should be as large as brand
names,”
• “An improved remedy with a
three or four-day withdrawal tune
will solve a great part of the
problem.”
• “Writing on the containers
should be larger.”
• “Give us a decent milk price so
we can cut down on the number of
cattle on the farm.”
• “Some milk replacers don’t
have the proper nourishment. And
more information should be
available on diseases that effect
calves at this age.”
In conclusion, there are many
reasons that calves go to slaughter
with drug residues still in their
system. Not identifying treated
animals, not reading the
medication label, and not un
derstanding the marketing system
have all been implicated.
One of the best ways to avoid
drug residues is to avoid the need
to treat the calves by raising
healthy animals. Adequate
colostrum is extremely important
- two quarts within two hours
after birth. This gives the calf
protection against many common
diseases. Clean, dry housing with
good ventilation is also important,
and helps to prevent many
respiratory diseases. These
measures are much more effective
than routinely givine calves a
“pill.”
For more information on
producing healthy calves, contact
your county extension agent.
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