a commitment to milk quality Antibiotic use and its role in ensuring safe, wholesome milk Did you know? Dairy cows are under regular care of licensed veterinarians. Sick animals may need medication to restore their health. Testing ensures we have a safe and healthy food supply.
Safe milk supply is top priority When you walk into a supermarket these days, you re faced with a dizzying array of choices: Fat-free. Low fat. Sugar-free. Low carb. High fiber. Sometimes, product labels meant to help you make food purchase decisions only add to the confusion. For example, you may have seen milk or dairy products labeled antibiotic-free. The truth is: All dairy products are wholesome and safe for consumption. If a sick dairy cow needs to be treated with antibiotics or other medications to restore her health, her milk and meat are tested to ensure they are safe to enter the food supply. All dairy animals are under the regular care of licensed veterinarians who prescribe antibiotics when necessary and advise dairy producers on how to use them properly. In fact, everyone involved with dairy production from the producer to the milk processor takes responsibility to ensure that dairy products are wholesome and safe. On the pages that follow, a veterinarian, dairy producer and Zoetis veterinarian share how they do their part to make sure antibiotics are used safely and responsibly on dairy operations.
Veterinarian: My job is keeping animals healthy By Andy Borrowman, DVM My duty as a veterinarian begins the day a calf is born and does not end until that animal leaves my client s dairy. I am involved with every aspect of animal health management from employee training to investigating disease problems to surgeries. The roles I play on dairies are diverse, yet my goals are simple: to maintain the overall health of the cow and to help the dairy be profitable. No one wants a sick cow, so we practice preventive medicine. I work with clients to set up protocols for using vaccines and antibiotics. My responsibilities include selecting products, providing medicine administration instructions, recommending follow-up care and training employees on proper product use. Vaccines are used to protect cows from illness. Yet, they do not always provide complete protection and sometimes cows can get sick. We have to step in and help these cows. It is our duty to take care of these animals as best we can. Antibiotics are extremely valuable to me in veterinary medicine. They work by weakening and slowing the growth of bacteria, to help the animal s immune system eliminate the infectious agent. They can take an animal that is in pain and help her make a rapid recovery. Andy Borrowman, DVM, (at right) is a dairy veterinarian at Vet Logic Inc. in Nampa, Idaho. Dr. Borrowman trains clients on how to recognize cow health problems and intervene early to help them recover. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve antibiotics before they are marketed. And, once approved, prescription antibiotics can be used only under the guidance of a veterinarian. If an antibiotic is administered to help a sick cow, her milk is not allowed to enter the food supply until the antibiotic has sufficiently cleared the animal s system. During this withholding period, the cow s milk is discarded. The withholding period ensures that traces of antibiotics do not end up in milk or dairy products found in grocery stores. I firmly believe that our dairy production system includes high standards and proper checkpoints. I have four young children who drink milk every day. I serve my children milk without any fear or reservations.
Dairy producer: Our cows get top-notch care By Jon Wheeler As manager of Oord Dairy, animal welfare is my primary responsibility. I take great pride in working with employees to take top-notch care of our cows. Healthy, comfortable cows reward us with high-quality milk. Scott Kieser, DVM, our herd veterinarian, visits our dairy every week and is involved in every aspect of cow care. We work together to set up written protocols for vaccination, disease treatment and other herd health management practices. Team leaders and Dr. Kieser train employees so they understand how and when to use important tools like antibiotics. They understand the importance of following label directions and keeping good records. Jon Wheeler with his granddaughter at Oord Dairy in Sunnyside, Wash. The dairy, owned by Henry Oord, is home to 6,500 cows. Wheeler manages 70 employees who care for the animals. We do our best to prevent illness through our vaccination program written by Dr. Kieser. But just like people, cows occasionally will get sick. When they do, we are fortunate to be able to use antibiotics to help them recover. Antibiotics help shorten the duration of bacteriological infections and avoid the suffering or possible death of a sick cow. When an animal becomes ill, we feel it is our responsibility to use antibiotics so it can recover quickly. Employees constantly monitor cow health and watch for signs of illness. We immediately move sick cows to a separate facility away from the milking herd. In the hospital area, cows are treated promptly. All information is entered into a computer, so there s a permanent treatment record. We do not use any prescription antibiotics without the consent of Dr. Kieser. Employees treat animals with the most effective product for the illness based on Dr. Kieser s protocols. Once an animal recovers, we wait the appropriate length of time to ensure any antibiotics clear the cow s system before we sell her milk. To ensure that we are in full compliance with withholding periods, we also test our milk before it leaves the dairy. Every load of milk sold is tested multiple times along the supply chain for traces of antibiotics as required by state and government agencies. If milk or dairy products test positive for traces of antibiotics, they are destroyed and offenders are faced with steep fines.
Pharmaceutical company: Our focus is dairy wellness By Roger Saltman, DVM, Group Director, Cattle Technical Services, Zoetis At Zoetis, we understand consumer concerns about food safety and are committed to ensuring a safe, sustainable food supply from healthy animals. As head of the Technical Services group, I lead more than 50 Zoetis veterinarians who work with dairy producers and veterinarians across the country to ensure that antibiotics are used judiciously with the goals of keeping animals healthy and producing wholesome dairy products. Our team helps dairy producers and veterinarians develop comprehensive protocols to improve every aspect of dairy management, every day. We help them make decisions that are right for healthy animals, healthy dairies and healthy food. This commitment to dairy wellness helps lead to a safe and wholesome food supply. The Zoetis commitment to dairy wellness also extends into product development. Our company invests in leading-edge research to develop new technologies that meet the needs of the entire dairy production system. Seven hundred scientists, headquartered at the Zoetis Veterinary Medicine Research and Development Division in Kalamazoo, Mich., spearhead our research efforts. Before it is approved for sale, a new antibiotic must go through an extensive, tightly regulated development process. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees this process for pharmaceuticals, while the U.S. Department Roger Saltman, DVM, (at right) heads the Zoetis Technical Services group. He helps producers and veterinarians identify and solve health issues on dairies. of Agriculture (USDA) oversees vaccines. These agencies evaluate all available data to answer these questions: 1) Is the product safe in the cow? 2) When withdrawal times are followed, are the milk and meat safe for consumption? 3) Is the product effective when used according to the label? 4) Can the product be manufactured consistently and with no negative environmental impacts? This review process typically takes a minimum of seven years before a product can enter the market. Zoetis funds continuing research on these products, even after they are approved for sale. Our goal is to provide pharmaceutical products that protect both animal and human health.
Milk s journey from dairy cow to dairy case Quality monitoring continues at every step, from the time milk leaves the dairy operation until it reaches the dairy case in the supermarket. Step 1: Milking Step 2: Transporting Step 3: Receiving Dairy producers strive to produce the highestquality milk possible. Employees clean and sanitize the cow s udder before applying milking machines. Equipment is cleaned and sanitized after each use. Checkpoints: Milk from any cow treated with antibiotics is withheld from sale until it is tested safe. When milk is picked up from the dairy, samples are collected and milk is tested to ensure its safety before it is unloaded at the receiving station. All facilities that handle the milk are regularly inspected and audited by the regulatory agency to ensure they meet provisions of the Food and Drug Administration s (FDA) Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. Milk is transported in a tanker truck with insulated stainless steel tanks to keep the milk cold. All tanks are cleaned and sanitized every time they are emptied. Checkpoints: Milk truck drivers are accredited and evaluate the milk based on temperature, appearance and odor. Milk goes to a receiving station at the processing plant or it may go to a transfer facility where it is stored, kept cool and prepared for further transport. All stations keep daily records, identifying each load so milk from each dairy can be tracked. Checkpoints: Milk samples are taken from the truck upon arrival at the stations. Lab employees analyze the milk using an approved antibiotic test specified by the FDA. Milk must pass this test before unloading at the plant.
Step 4: Processing Step 5: Packaging Step 6: Selling When milk passes other quality tests and is approved for use, it is pumped into a storage silo where it is separated, homogenized and pasteurized. Checkpoints: As milk is processed, laboratory checks evaluate the color, odor, appearance, temperature and taste of milk. Tests also are done to ensure proper pasteurization. The milk is now ready for packaging. Milk travels through enclosed stainless steel pipes to automatic packaging machines that fill and seal the milk into the appropriate containers. Checkpoints: As packaged milk moves through the assembly line, a date is printed on the container to show how long the milk will stay fresh. Milk will not be sold if it has passed the expiration date printed on the package. Plant quality control testing ensures package integrity and weight. Once packaged, milk is ready to move to the store shelf. It is transported in refrigerated trucks and is stored in refrigerated rooms until it makes its way to the dairy case. Checkpoints: State regulatory agencies and the FDA conduct randomized testing of milk that is on grocery store shelves to make sure it meets all of their standards.
Milk quality is a shared responsibility When you pull a gallon of milk from your local dairy case, you may not realize that milk is one of the most highly regulated of all food products. At every step from the dairy farm to your table, many individuals take responsibility for ensuring a safe, wholesome food supply all under the oversight of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Veterinarians prescribe and oversee the use of antibiotics that have been evaluated and approved by the FDA. Dairy producers follow strict FDA regulations and guidelines for antibiotic use. Pharmaceutical companies submit results of extensive product safety research to the FDA, and help dairy producers and veterinarians use antibiotics properly. Milk processors monitor and test the milk supply to make sure it is safe and wholesome for you and your family. HEALTHY ANIMALS HEALTHY DAIRIES HEALTHY FOOD zoetisus.com 888-ZOETIS1 (888-963-8471) All trademarks are the property of Zoetis Inc., its affiliates and/or its licensors. 2013 Zoetis Inc. All rights reserved. GDR13268