Expiration Dates

Checking things needed when calving starts in a couple weeks.  Have Vit A-D and Vit-B-12 injectable with expired dates.  A-D expired in 2013.  B-12 was 2015.  Discard and buy new or could they still be safe and potent?

I wouldn't be afraid to use the one that expired in 2015. And would discard the one from 2013

For as cheap as those are is it really worth the risk?

If they have been well stored they should be fine, I would have no problem using them. If the 2013 expiry one has been under the seat of your pick-up for the last three years I would consider tossing it!

Read about the Federal Shelf Life Extension Program.  Efficacy has much more to do with exposure than the stated 'expiration.'

The bottles have never left the house.  With only one or two calves to process per day, if any, we just draw the desired dose in a syringe and take that to the barn.  I also agree with the low cost, why worry, just buy new.  Is there much difference in using B-Complex or B-12?  One, can't remember which, requires a prescription.

The B-complex should prevent deficiencies in Thiamin, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, Folacin, Biotin, and Choline. B-12 will just help prevent Folacin deficiency.  Assuming that your B-Complex has all the B-vitamins. Also since they are the water soluble vitamins toxicity is very unlikely, so there's really no reason not to give a calf all of them.

-XBAR- said:

Read about the Federal Shelf Life Extension Program.  Efficacy has much more to do with exposure than the stated 'expiration.'

Click to expand...

Most expiry dates err on the side of extremely cautious.  I'm cheap and like Duncraggan said, if it has been stored properly, they'll be fine.