Livestock health treatments: read the label and record the treatment
Applying chemicals and administering veterinary products to livestock can seem like a complicated business but there are three simple rule to follow that take the guesswork out of it:
Read the label instructions
Follow the label instructions
Record the treatment
Stories abound of various practices recommended by someone or someone’s neighbour but the simple truth is that if it’s not written on a product’s label, it should not be done.
Label recommendations are there for a reason. There is a lot of research and trial work that goes into developing the label recommendations and they describe the safest, most effective and best way known to use the product. Always read the label and follow the instructions exactly.
Too much time and effort goes into mustering and yarding animals, and buying and administering products to not use the product correctly. Take the time, and follow the advice.
Safety first, always
It is important to realise that some products contain chemicals that must be used correctly to ensure the safety of workers.
The product label has information on the safe use of the product, including how workers should administer the product and the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be used.
For example, the label for a sheep lice treatment may state that the product should only be applied to sheep contained within a narrow sheep race, that the person applying it should stand outside the race and that contact with eyes and skin should also be avoided. You cannot follow these safety directions and apply the product on the board immediately after shearing.
Some product labels have restraints, or DO NOT statements. When you read a label, if it says DO NOT, then it doesn’t matter who you are, you aren’t allowed to do that thing.
Don’t mix it up
Formulations of agricultural and veterinary products contain active ingredients and a range of other ingredients to make the product work and be absorbed by the animal’s body.
If you mix something else into it, it won’t work. When you put two things together, they don’t always work as they do on their own.
It is a false economy to add something to a product in the hope it would make it go further or be absorbed better.
Record keeping
Another important part of applying chemicals and administering veterinary products to livestock is record keeping.
When applying chemicals and administering veterinary products to livestock animal treatment records should be kept.
Applying chemicals and administering veterinary products to livestock should only be done as part of an animal health plan that outlines preventative and therapeutic measures. The results of diagnostic tests should be used to guide treatment decisions. The results of these tests should be recorded as part of the animal treatment records.
Wondering what to include in the animal treatment record?
I provide a Livestock Health Treatment Record Checklist free of charge to my clients.