At risk of looking like I'm coming off as "holier than thou" I'd like you guys to give some thought to use, especially in show cattle, but in all food producing livestock, of Ace, Rompum (? spelling,) etc. My reason for posting this is that at least in the US, most of those products are labeled for use in horses and not food producing animals...thus they are being used in an Extra Label manner!!!
Most state, regional, and national shows today are testing for use of extra label/illegal drugs. Heck even some local/county shows are too...and one of the biggest offenders is Ace or Rompum. If you're going to use these, please get an extra label prescription from your vet, keep diligent and detailed records of use, and take the liability off of yourselves!!!
How do I know this...
During grad school I spent a year and a half as the interm county agent in a large livestock county that also had a large "show" contingent. The county show was a "terminal" show, and one of the stipulations of the packers for all four species was, each individual animal be tested for residues. Mind you this was about a year after the Ryan Rash, clenbuterol incident at the National Western in Denver. The same packer that bought the NWSS steers bid and got the contract on our county show steers, so they were a little suspecious and leary of buying a set of show steers, after being burnt.
Low and behold the champion steer tests positive for Ace...what a wreck...under the Ethics codes for the Internaional Fairs and Shows...that means that the kid can't show for life. The family was a prominent (both in the show ring and the "real" world) purebred breeder of cattle, and the kid was 9 or 10 years old, so I highly doubt he had any part in the use of the Ace. So, I couldn't sign off on entry forms for other shows...in the mean time, I was sued, as Extension Agent, along with several others. They sued, not because they wanted to sue me, but because they wanted an injunction to keep showing. Mind you the calf had been on display for 3 days after the show and the Ace could have been put in feed, water, etc. Finally an out of court settlement was agreed upon, and it's a done deal.
Just remember, if you are using these Extra Label products without an Extra Label prescription, you are committing an illegal act...essentially a crime.
If this had occurred today, I suspect the exhibitors would be prosecuted, as FSIS and FDA are getting stricter on illegal use of "drugs" in food producing animals.
All in all it was a learning experience, but before using these Extra Label products "CYA" and get a vet's prescription. If they won't write it for you, it's probably best to not be using it.
Today there is an approved "herbal" product available in the US called "Calf Calm" (I think) that kids and parents tell me works pretty well.
Sorry to post such a "downer" post...I generally like posting good or happy things...but hopefully this will help keep some good meaning, unsuspecting folks out of trouble too.
Cheers---
TTB :wink: