Before you get your knickers in a knot please read the whole thing - the reason for these questions is that if the hypothesis is correct the collective anonymous data can be used to describe how beef producers really used the drug and to encourage the bovine practitioners to not push for this change
Please read the label for Banamine, the "official notice" we received the other day and then read and respond to my post
"For intravenous or intramuscular use in horses, and intravenous use in beef and dairy cattle.....cattle:...indicated for the control of pyrexia associated with BRD, endotoxemia and acute bovine mastitis...also indicated for the control of inflammation in endotoxemia"
Flunixin Residues and Injection Site Damage –
A Serious Problem Requiring Serious Attention by Bovine Veterinarians
1. Flunixin was the second leading violative residue reported in 2007.
According to the USDA Red Book, which reports drug residues found in meat and milk products, in 2007, just under 1% of dairy cows had violative residues (inspector generated sampling), with flunixin being the second most common (number one is penicillin). Flunixin residues were found in 259 cows.
The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has already warned veterinarians to use flunixin meglumine in the proper and labeled manner. The FDA-CVM states that using a different route of administration for convenience is not adequate reason for extralabel use, making most IM or SC use of flunixin illegal.
2. Flunixin must be given IV.
Withdrawal times are established by a drug manufacturer using the labeled dose, route, frequency and duration. If any of those parameters change, the withdrawal time on the label may not be sufficient. In fact, FARAD has stated that they do not have adequate information to extrapolate a withdrawal time for IM or SC flunixin.
3. Flunixin causes serious tissue damage when given subcutaneously or intramuscularly.
Photographs of the damage caused by flunixin given IM or SC at 14 days post-administration can be found on the AABP website select “Members” the “Member Resources”. Even when damage is not visible from the outside of the animal (no lumps or bumps), damage to tissues has occurred, and we can assume that these lesions are painful. In addition to the damage to meat product such as excessive trim, reduced quality, and prolonged absorption of drug leading to violative residues, IM or SC use of flunixin is potentially harmful to the animal. This is an illogical use of a product that is administered to relieve painful and inflammatory conditions.
References
- S.R.R. Haskell, R. Gehring, M.A. Payne, A.L. Craigmill, A.I. Webb, R.E. Baynes, and J.E. Riviere. Update on FARAD food animal drug withholding recommendations. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2003; 223(9):1277-1278.
- Food Safety and Inspection Service, 2007 FSIS National Residue Program Data, October, 2008, http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/2007_Red_Book_Complete.pdf, accessed June 23, 2009.
- FDA Veterinarian Newsletter, 2007, Volume XXII, No. II
OK, so we all know that drugs are used extra label in cattle all the time with little or no consequence - they are often used extra label when the health of the beast is not in question (ie most of the synch protocols), again with little or no consequence - in fact it often appears to me that the FDA does not care, unless there is a residue.
From talking to producers, veterinarians, and technicians across the US it appears that in beef cattle Banamine is frequently given either IM or SQ, and that often it is dispensed by the vet for IM or SQ use. It also appears that 4 days is often used as the meat withhold for any or all routes. It also appears to me that beef producers often give it orally - esp to calves.
So I have the following questions (and if you would prefer to not be associated with your answers please email me and I will post the total results)- I am trying to get a sense of it's use in the real world....IMHO this policy is short sighted, not in tune with reality, trying to make residues and injection site lesions a welfare issue, and possible limiting the only approved drug that can be used for bovine pain (although extra label for pain) - your thoughts and responses would be appreciated. I would request one response per farm/ranch and responses from adults only (sorry kids
1. Do you use Banamine?
2. If yes, what route do you use?
3. What meat withhold do you use?
4. What is your primary use for Banamine?
5. If extra label use of Banamine was forbidden would you have the facilities and skill to give the drug IV?
6. characterize your operation (registered, commercial, feedyard, club calves, grass fed etc..<100 cows, 100 to 500, >500 etc)
7. any comments?
If the issue is really residues then why not provide reasonable withhold times and make them easily accessible? It is nearly impossible to obtain a reasonable withdrawal for the IM or SQ use of Banamine apparently because they (whoever they are) are pushing very hard to seriously discourage any use other than IV.
TIA for your input and consideration - Dusty remember we are only talking about use in cattle
Please read the label for Banamine, the "official notice" we received the other day and then read and respond to my post
"For intravenous or intramuscular use in horses, and intravenous use in beef and dairy cattle.....cattle:...indicated for the control of pyrexia associated with BRD, endotoxemia and acute bovine mastitis...also indicated for the control of inflammation in endotoxemia"
Flunixin Residues and Injection Site Damage –
A Serious Problem Requiring Serious Attention by Bovine Veterinarians
1. Flunixin was the second leading violative residue reported in 2007.
According to the USDA Red Book, which reports drug residues found in meat and milk products, in 2007, just under 1% of dairy cows had violative residues (inspector generated sampling), with flunixin being the second most common (number one is penicillin). Flunixin residues were found in 259 cows.
The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has already warned veterinarians to use flunixin meglumine in the proper and labeled manner. The FDA-CVM states that using a different route of administration for convenience is not adequate reason for extralabel use, making most IM or SC use of flunixin illegal.
2. Flunixin must be given IV.
Withdrawal times are established by a drug manufacturer using the labeled dose, route, frequency and duration. If any of those parameters change, the withdrawal time on the label may not be sufficient. In fact, FARAD has stated that they do not have adequate information to extrapolate a withdrawal time for IM or SC flunixin.
3. Flunixin causes serious tissue damage when given subcutaneously or intramuscularly.
Photographs of the damage caused by flunixin given IM or SC at 14 days post-administration can be found on the AABP website select “Members” the “Member Resources”. Even when damage is not visible from the outside of the animal (no lumps or bumps), damage to tissues has occurred, and we can assume that these lesions are painful. In addition to the damage to meat product such as excessive trim, reduced quality, and prolonged absorption of drug leading to violative residues, IM or SC use of flunixin is potentially harmful to the animal. This is an illogical use of a product that is administered to relieve painful and inflammatory conditions.
References
- S.R.R. Haskell, R. Gehring, M.A. Payne, A.L. Craigmill, A.I. Webb, R.E. Baynes, and J.E. Riviere. Update on FARAD food animal drug withholding recommendations. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2003; 223(9):1277-1278.
- Food Safety and Inspection Service, 2007 FSIS National Residue Program Data, October, 2008, http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/2007_Red_Book_Complete.pdf, accessed June 23, 2009.
- FDA Veterinarian Newsletter, 2007, Volume XXII, No. II
OK, so we all know that drugs are used extra label in cattle all the time with little or no consequence - they are often used extra label when the health of the beast is not in question (ie most of the synch protocols), again with little or no consequence - in fact it often appears to me that the FDA does not care, unless there is a residue.
From talking to producers, veterinarians, and technicians across the US it appears that in beef cattle Banamine is frequently given either IM or SQ, and that often it is dispensed by the vet for IM or SQ use. It also appears that 4 days is often used as the meat withhold for any or all routes. It also appears to me that beef producers often give it orally - esp to calves.
So I have the following questions (and if you would prefer to not be associated with your answers please email me and I will post the total results)- I am trying to get a sense of it's use in the real world....IMHO this policy is short sighted, not in tune with reality, trying to make residues and injection site lesions a welfare issue, and possible limiting the only approved drug that can be used for bovine pain (although extra label for pain) - your thoughts and responses would be appreciated. I would request one response per farm/ranch and responses from adults only (sorry kids
1. Do you use Banamine?
2. If yes, what route do you use?
3. What meat withhold do you use?
4. What is your primary use for Banamine?
5. If extra label use of Banamine was forbidden would you have the facilities and skill to give the drug IV?
6. characterize your operation (registered, commercial, feedyard, club calves, grass fed etc..<100 cows, 100 to 500, >500 etc)
7. any comments?
If the issue is really residues then why not provide reasonable withhold times and make them easily accessible? It is nearly impossible to obtain a reasonable withdrawal for the IM or SQ use of Banamine apparently because they (whoever they are) are pushing very hard to seriously discourage any use other than IV.
TIA for your input and consideration - Dusty remember we are only talking about use in cattle