The Cattlemen’s Beef Board Dairy Producer Forum at the recent Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville featured Dr. Michael Apley, Veterinarian at Kansas State University who focused on concerns about antibiotic resistance and residues in culled dairy cows and veal calves and what can be done to get rid of them.
“One of the unique things about dairy cattle is a lot of treatment in a sick dairy cow happens immediately before her being culled from the herd,” he said, noting that having veterinarians involved can be very helpful to dairy producers, especially in terms of making sure all procedures comply with current laws.
Since the end use of a dairy cow is beef, Dr. Apley says it is important for producers to keep consumer confidence in mind. “In my opinion, it’s going to be a heavy influence of packers and retailers determining the value proposition of beef that comes from a dairy origin,” he said.
Apley recommends that dairy producers first make sure their own house is in order and second, have zero tolerance for any producers who might give the industry a black eye by not doing it right.
Listen to an interview with Dr. Apley from the Cattle Industry Convention: Interview with Dr. Mike Apley