New Measures Aim to Reduce Veterinary Drug Waste on Dairy Farms
Animal welfare and cost reduction are key drivers behind a new initiative aimed at reducing waste from unused veterinary drugs on dairy farms. The recently elected president of Auckland Federated Farmers, Rosemarie Costar, highlighted the issue of waste during a conference, emphasizing that farmers disliked seeing unused drugs discarded.
In April, following inspections by Fonterra, new regulations were implemented requiring farmers to label drug containers with the opening date and dispose of any remaining content as per instructions and expiration dates. Costly drugs like Metacam 40, priced at $450 for a 100ml bottle, are discarded just 28 days after opening, even if little has been used. Another drug, costing $340 for a 250ml container, must be discarded after 90 days due to contamination risks.
To address this, Costar engaged with food quality auditors QCONZ, Franklin Vets, and the cooperative to find a solution. The discussions revealed that under Ministry for Primary Industries regulations, veterinarians could provide alternative usage instructions on the farmer's RVM script. This would involve using a dispensing gun to minimize contamination, allowing farmers to comply with regulations and avoid unnecessary waste.
Veterinarians would need to specify a recommended timeframe for drug use, with the original expiration date still observed. Providing different instructions than those on the drug container would be considered off-label use, requiring specific advice from veterinarians for each farmer.
Costar noted that it took a year to agree on the solution, with significant input from Franklin Vets, QCONZ, and Fonterra. She emphasized the importance of communicating this solution to farmers to ensure they consult their veterinarians about the best approach for their needs.
Costar, who runs a dairy farm with her husband in Onewhero, has extensive experience in the industry, having served as Auckland Federated Farmers Dairy chair and a Waikato District councillor. She succeeds Alan Cole as president, who held the role for seven years.
