SHEEP AND GOAT QUALITY ASSURANCE Beth Johnson, DVM Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office of State Veterinarian (office) (cell)
Quality Assurance Objectives To improve management practices To avoid violative drug residues To increase awareness of food safety concerns To decrease productions costs To decrease the incidence of discounts To establish a record keeping system
Needle Know How Select Needle Gauge- diameter of needle selected for goat weight and product used o Large enough to protect against breakage o Large enough to handle the characteristics of the product o No larger than necessary Length- fit route of administration, adjust for size
Needle Know How Change Needles: Immediately if needle bends If needle becomes contaminated with manure, dirt or irritating chemicals If needle point becomes burred Before needle becomes dull or contaminated (every 10 to 15 head) Between goats with known blood-borne infectious disease (CAE, other viral infections)
6.
Show or purebred Recommended injection site Site of administration
Product Selection Not all injectables are the same, preference should be given to products that: Use a lower dosage Recommend SQ administration Are less reactive once applied
Subcutaneous Injections Commercial animals o Prefer injections in neck Breeders/show animals o Prefer the axilla area (behind the elbow) o Nodular mass not as visible o Not readily mistaken for caseous lymphadenitis
Read the Label
Keep Mixing! With larger-dose packages, mix well at first and then keep mixing during use
Administer Drugs Properly Choose best location and technique for injection Proper volume effects withdrawal time When making multiple injections, keep injection sites at least 3 inches apart, being careful not to reuse injection sites Properly restrain animal for injection
Use Approved Drugs Extra-Label Drug Use (ELDU) OTC drugs must be used exactly as labeled “off-label” or “extra-label” use o On both OTC & Rx drugs o Allows higher dosages in different species o Requires a DVM signature and a valid VCPR
Extra-Label Drug Use (ELDU) Requirements: o There is no drug labeled for the health problem o Permissible when animal’s health is threatened; not permissible for production purposes (weight gain or feed efficiency) o May be applied to drugs and drugs in water, NOT to drugs administered in feed
Extra-Label Drug Use (ELDU) Requirements: o Extended meat withdrawal times are used to avoid food residues (zero tolerance) o Prescribed by a veterinarian o Valid Veterinary/Client/Patient Relationship Not included on the drug label or package insert
Caution- Human Safety Concerns Wear protective clothing/gloves when handling chemicals Prostaglandin products (Lutalyse, Estrumate, etc.) should not be handled by pregnant women; this product can be absorbed through the skin
Practices to Insure Good Herd Health Biosecurity All incoming animals should be kept separate from the herd for an appropriate time (minimum of two weeks) Maintain fences between neighbors Outside individuals should wear clean protective clothing May want to utilize footbaths