Quality Assurance & Food Safety for Arizona Youth Livestock Producers

What is Quality Assurance? Quality Quality –Are the products good to eat? –Are they safe and healthy? –Do they taste good? –Are they tender?

What is Quality Assurance? Assurance: Assurance: –A pledge or a promise Quality Assurance The promise we make to consumers that the food that comes from our livestock will be of the highest possible quality and we will do everything we can to make those products safe to eat.

Why Quality Assurance? Improves food quality Improves food quality Improves care and management Improves care and management Avoids drug residues Avoids drug residues Increases product value Increases product value

Consumer Food Service Service Retail/Distribution Processing Harvesting Marketing Transportation Producer Attitude

HACCP and Food Safety A system used in meat packing plants to prevent food safety problems A system used in meat packing plants to prevent food safety problems Regulated by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Regulated by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Hazard Analysis and Analysis and Critical Critical Control Control Points Points

HACCP and Food Safety Microbial contamination – –E. coli, salmonella, etc. Chemical hazards – –Antimicrobial and chemical tissue residues Physical hazards – –Broken needles or metal Hazards can be identified as:

HACCP and Food Safety Identify hazards Identify hazards Find critical points in the process Find critical points in the process Establish critical limits for each critical control point Establish critical limits for each critical control point Monitor Monitor Take corrective action if monitoring shows there are deviations outside the limits of a critical control point Take corrective action if monitoring shows there are deviations outside the limits of a critical control point Keep records on each critical control point Keep records on each critical control point Verify that the HACCP plan is working correctly. Verify that the HACCP plan is working correctly. The Steps of HACCP are:

The producer’s responsibility is to supply the packer with animals that are free from drug and chemical residues and physical hazards such as broken needles. The producer’s responsibility is to supply the packer with animals that are free from drug and chemical residues and physical hazards such as broken needles. We must also be aware of withdrawal times because a packer can’t hold an animal delivered to the plant. Where do I fit into HACCP ? Producers Consumers Packer

Food and Drug Administration Regulates medicated animal feed and most health products Regulates medicated animal feed and most health products Approves products and sets tolerance levels for antimicrobials Approves products and sets tolerance levels for antimicrobials Current Regulatory Agencies Sets tolerance levels for pesticides used in livestock production Sets tolerance levels for pesticides used in livestock production Food Safety and Inspection Service Inspects hogs in packing plants Inspects hogs in packing plants Examines plant sanitation Examines plant sanitation Approves plant sanitation Approves plant sanitation

GPP’s Good Production Practices

Good Production Practice #1 Keep Accurate Records Good Production Practice #1 Keep Accurate Records Why? Proof of ownership Record medications Good management Animal Identification

Maintain medication and treatment records. Good Production Practice #1 Keep Accurate Records Good Production Practice #1 Keep Accurate Records Date of treatment Date of treatment Animal treated Animal treated Product used Product used Amount administered Amount administered Route of administration Route of administration Who gave the drug Who gave the drug Withdrawal time Withdrawal time Completed withdrawal date Completed withdrawal date

Obtain and use veterinary prescription drugs through a licensed veterinarian based on a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship Good Production Practice #2 Establish a Valid Veterinary-Client- Patient Relationship

Over the Counter Drugs (OTC) Over the Counter Drugs (OTC) Prescription Drugs (Rx) Prescription Drugs (Rx) –Factors determining whether a drug is OTC or Rx: Margin of safety to animal Effects of accidental overdose Difficulty of identifying disease being treated Safety for the administrator Types of Animal Health Products

Types of Drug Use Labeled Use: Using the drug EXACTLY as it is specified on this label. Medicated feed may only be used as directed by the label. Labeled use is legal and the type of use most producers use! Labeled Use: Using the drug EXACTLY as it is specified on this label. Medicated feed may only be used as directed by the label. Labeled use is legal and the type of use most producers use! Off Label: The PRODUCER uses drugs on their own in a manner other than what is stated on the label without veterinarian guidance. This is ILLEGAL!! Off Label: The PRODUCER uses drugs on their own in a manner other than what is stated on the label without veterinarian guidance. This is ILLEGAL!! Extra Label: The VETERINARIAN prescribes a drug to be used in a manner other than what’s on the label. This is legal and is used when a good veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists. Extra Label: The VETERINARIAN prescribes a drug to be used in a manner other than what’s on the label. This is legal and is used when a good veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists.

The label says to give 10cc of the drug…your veterinarian says give 20cc. The label says to give 10cc of the drug…your veterinarian says give 20cc. You decide on your own to use a drug for pneumonia to treat your pigs ringworm.You decide on your own to use a drug for pneumonia to treat your pigs ringworm. Your veterinarian suggests using a drug approved for chickens on your pig.Your veterinarian suggests using a drug approved for chickens on your pig. The label says treat your pig twice a day and you treat it at 8 am and 8 pm.The label says treat your pig twice a day and you treat it at 8 am and 8 pm. Extra Label, Off Label...or Okay? EXTRA LABEL OKAY OFF LABEL and ILLEGAL Good Production Practice #2 Good Production Practice #2

Properly Store, Label and Account for all Drug Products and Medicated Feeds. Properly Store, Label and Account for all Drug Products and Medicated Feeds. Food and Drug Administration regulates what drugs and amounts are safe for use. It also licenses feed mills to use these approved drugs. Food and Drug Administration regulates what drugs and amounts are safe for use. It also licenses feed mills to use these approved drugs. Good Production Practice #3 Follow Healthy Production Practices

Read & Follow Label Instructions….. All drug labels and/or inserts should contain this information All drug labels and/or inserts should contain this information Good Production Practice #3 Follow Healthy Production Practices Good Production Practice #3 Follow Healthy Production Practices

Proper Injection Sites Don’t give intra-muscular injections in high value cuts – preferred location is in the neck. Don’t give intra-muscular injections in high value cuts – preferred location is in the neck. May cause injection site lesions or abscess May cause injection site lesions or abscess Common Techniques Common Techniques –Sub-Q –IM –IV Good Production Practice #3 Follow Healthy Production Practices Good Production Practice #3 Follow Healthy Production Practices

Example of Injection Site Damage

Withdrawal Time Withdrawal time is the amount of time required for the medication to be metabolized, or broken down, by the animal’s body. Determined and set by research and governmental regulationsDetermined and set by research and governmental regulations Printed on the medication labelPrinted on the medication label Good Production Practice #3 Follow Healthy Production Practices Good Production Practice #3 Follow Healthy Production Practices

Provide proper animal care. Good Production Practice #4 Proper Care & Handling

ALWAYS …. ALWAYS …. have plenty of clean, fresh water have plenty of clean, fresh water –Animals will die in 1 -3 days without water –Shortage of, or poor quality water will affect performance Good Production Practice #4 Proper Care & Handling

Pens Pens –Don’t overcrowd –Clean, dry bedding –No nails or sharp objects sticking out –Clean feed bunks and water Good Production Practice #4 Proper Care & Handling Good Production Practice #4 Proper Care & Handling

Weather conditions…. Weather conditions…. Protect from extremes - Shade, fans, misters - Added shelter Good Production Practice #4 Proper Care & Handling Good Production Practice #4 Proper Care & Handling

Work with animals prior to the Fair Work with animals prior to the Fair Don’t poke, hit, or prod animals in the high value cut areas Don’t poke, hit, or prod animals in the high value cut areas Do not cause increased stress Do not cause increased stress Don’t forget about your project after the show Don’t forget about your project after the show Good Production Practice #4 Proper Care & Handling Good Production Practice #4 Proper Care & Handling

Use high quality feeds Use high quality feeds Read labels Read labels Meet nutritional needs Meet nutritional needs Follow appropriate feed mixing procedures Follow appropriate feed mixing procedures Clean and free of wire, manure, mold, etc Clean and free of wire, manure, mold, etc Properly stored Properly stored –Dry & clean –Away from rodents and other animals –Not too old Good Production Practice #5 Provide Adequate & Safe Feed Good Production Practice #5 Provide Adequate & Safe Feed

Good Production Practice #6 Maintain Biosecurity Good Production Practice #6 Maintain Biosecurity Make sure livestock trailers are cleaned and sanitized/sterilized. Make sure livestock trailers are cleaned and sanitized/sterilized. Avoid sharing grooming and feeding/watering equipment. Avoid sharing grooming and feeding/watering equipment. Discourage fair visitors from petting or feeding the animals. Discourage fair visitors from petting or feeding the animals. Practice good personal hygiene. Practice good personal hygiene. Be cautious with visitors to your farm. Be cautious with visitors to your farm. Isolate all purchased animals for two weeks and, preferably, for 30 days. Isolate all purchased animals for two weeks and, preferably, for 30 days. Isolate all animals returning from shows the same as purchased animals. Isolate all animals returning from shows the same as purchased animals. Contact with other animals or livestock equipment, can expose your animal to disease. Contact with other animals or livestock equipment, can expose your animal to disease. Reduce the risk of diseases, parasites and pests.

Provide animals that are safe, wholesome and high quality Provide animals that are safe, wholesome and high quality –A product that is nutritious, –with minimal microbial contamination, –no chemical residues above acceptable limits, –no parasites, –and when prepared properly is beneficial to human health when consumed. Good Production Practice #7 Follow Proper Food Safety Practices Good Production Practice #7 Follow Proper Food Safety Practices

A few quality problems include: Abuse of PayleanBlood SplashingBruising

Good Production Practice #7 Follow Proper Food Safety Practices Good Production Practice #7 Follow Proper Food Safety Practices

As a consumer take steps to prevent food- borne illness As a consumer take steps to prevent food- borne illness –Clean: wash hands and food contact surfaces –Separate: don’t cross contaminate –Cook: cook to the proper temperature –Chill: refrigerate promptly –If in doubt – throw it out Good Production Practice #7 Follow Proper Food Safety Practices Good Production Practice #7 Follow Proper Food Safety Practices

“Character is revealed by how we behave when we are sure that we won’t be found out.” Thomas Babington Macaulay Good Production Practice #8 Exhibit Strong Character Traits Good Production Practice #8 Exhibit Strong Character Traits

Read the rules. Read the rules. If it needs to be a secret, it’s probably wrong. If it needs to be a secret, it’s probably wrong. Is it a fraudulent practice? Does it misrepresent the animal? Is it a fraudulent practice? Does it misrepresent the animal? Is your action in the best interest of the animal? Is your action in the best interest of the animal? Does your action require the granting of “Special Exception”? Does your action require the granting of “Special Exception”? Good Production Practice #8 Exhibit Strong Character Traits Good Production Practice #8 Exhibit Strong Character Traits Ethical Decision Making

Trustworthiness Trustworthiness Respect Respect Fairness Fairness Caring Caring Citizenship Citizenship Responsibility Responsibility Good Production Practice #8 Exhibit Strong Character Traits Good Production Practice #8 Exhibit Strong Character Traits Core Values

SPORTSMANSHIP SPORTSMANSHIP... is about exhibiting livestock with honor - Follow the intent of the rules GAMESMANSHIP GAMESMANSHIP... is about winning for gain and glory - Using the rules to your advantage Good Production Practice #8 Exhibit Strong Character Traits Good Production Practice #8 Exhibit Strong Character Traits

Quality Assurance & Food Safety “Success in the show arena is just part of your food animal project.” “You are a food producer and must carry the responsibility that comes with being a part of our food chain.” “Do the Right Thing!