assuriassuringng

(poultry and rabbits)(poultry and rabbits)

a guide for youth livestock a guide for youth livestock producersproducers

Stephen R Schafer, EdD 2007 University of Stephen R Schafer, EdD 2007 University of WyomingWyoming

Quality Assurance: Quality Assurance: (poultry (poultry and rabbits) and rabbits)

Wyoming 4-H…QA Training for Wyoming 4-H…QA Training for YouthYouth

Poultry and Rabbit Quality Assurance Training, Information, and Materials were partially adapted from Nebraska 4-H…YQA Materials.

Wyoming YQA Team (poultry and rabbits): Dawn Sanchez, Wayne Tatman, Tammie Jensen, Ron Cunningham, and Steve Schafer

WHATWHAT is Quality is Quality Assurance?Assurance?

Quality:Quality:Are products good to eat?Are they safe and healthy?Do they taste good?Are they tender?

Assurance:Assurance:A pledge or a promiseTo consumers from producers

The food from our animals will be the highest possible quality and we will do everything we can to make these products (meat, eggs, fur, etc) safe.

WHYWHY Quality Assurance? Quality Assurance?

Improves care and managementAvoids drug residuesIncreases quality of productIncreases product value

WAS there a problem?WAS there a problem?

Injection site lesions …. were commonDrug residues …. in meat, eggs, milkBroken needles …. in meatBruised carcasses & poor meat quality ….

due to poor handling

Meat Quality

Decrease

Infection…Dirty Needle?

What about TODAY?What about TODAY?

Producers get a big “thumbs up” because:Producers get a big “thumbs up” because:

Residue levels …. have greatly decreasedBroken needles …. incidence rate is much lowerInjection site lesions….much less commonBruised carcasses & poor meat quality ….

much improved

Packer Packer RequirementsRequirements

Mandatory Quality AssuranceMandatory Quality Assurance

Other RequirementsOther Requirements

Excel

Rabbit & Poultry Quality Rabbit & Poultry Quality AssuranceAssurance

Food Safety ---

Is still very important to consumers!Producers also care about food safety!Quality Assurance is a way for producers to inform consumers about their products and the quality of the products they produce!Food Safety/Quality Assurance have the common goal of making sure that all meat, milk, eggs, fur, and other animal products are safe, wholesome, and healthy!

Who Who ShouldShould Be Be Responsible?Responsible?

“Gate to Plate” or “Farm to Fork” …Coop to Soup……Duck to Dinner…

Producer -- Packer--Retail/Food Service--Consumer

Who Should Be Who Should Be Responsible?Responsible?

“Gate to Plate” or “Farm to Fork” …Rabbit to Roast……Bunny to Brunch…

Producer -- Packer--Retail/Food Service--Consumer

WHOWHO is responsible for is responsible for QA?QA?

EveryoneEveryone involved in food production!

Livestock producersFood processors

– Meat processing plants– Milk processing plants– Egg processing plants– Any plant processing animal

products

Grocery stores & restaurantsConsumers

Food Supply ContinuumFood Supply Continuum

ConsumerConsumer

FoodFood ServiceService

RetailRetail

ProcessingProcessing HarvestingHarvesting

MarketingMarketing

TransportationTransportation

ProducerProducer

Youth producers should Youth producers should understand:understand:

Consumers have a right to expect a safe, healthy, and wholesome food supply.

Every producer, regardless of farm size, has a responsibility to meet consumer expectations.

Quality Assurance practices are beneficial to consumers, processors, producers, & animals.

Every producer, the livestock industry, and the 4-H/FFA programs are affected when there is negative publicity about youth livestock projects and/or youth livestock shows/sales.

Your Role in Quality Your Role in Quality Assurance:Assurance:

Daily Care and Management

Prevention (Disease and Harm)

Handling (Carcass/Product Quality)

Medication (Administering and Records)

Daily Care and Management

What is involved?

Identificatio

n

& Records

Feed & Wate

r

Housing &

Facilities

Prevention (Disease and Harm)

Why….to provide higher quality product

How• Control visitor access to housing facility

• Prevent pet access to housing facility

• Prevent wildlife from entering housing facility

• Keep all equipment in proper working order

• Keep an eye out for other possible hazards

Handling

Why…• How an animal is treated and handled

affects:– the animal (temperament and behavior…stress)– the quality and quantity of meat– the quality and quantity of other products (milk,

eggs, fur, etc)

What…• The proper techniques and methods of

– feeding and watering the animal– giving injections (sites and types)– moving and transporting the animal

Medication

Medication comes in the form of injections, pills, powders, and other purchased additivesIt is also found in most/many animal feedsRegardless of the form, the withdrawl time period must be observed (read label for time period)Label (feed tag or medicine instructions) will also specify how much to give and how often to give itLabel will also state the purpose of the product

Medicine & Feed Labels

The labels contain this valuable information:

Medication/InjectionsWhenever an injection (or other medication) is given to an animal, a written record should be kept

The record should include: the name and purpose of medication when/how much medication was given how it was given (injection, in water/feed, etc) if injection…where it was given on animal the withdrawl period and ending date of withdrawl period

If an injection was used to give the medicine, it is important to know where it should be given to the animal….this is known as the injection site or sites

Injections

Many medications are available, and many of them have specific instructions/directions for injectionDifferent types of injections….SQ, IM, & IV.

Injections: Poultry & Rabbits

Do not give more than .5 to 1ml (also known as .5 to 1cc) per injection/injection site

More than this amount can cause swelling and other problems for the animal

More than this amount will cause serious problems for meat/product quality

Injection SitesIt is important that injections are given in a place and manner so that minimum harm is done to the animal, quality/quantity of meat or other products

For Rabbits….

Injection SitesIt is important that injections are given in a place and manner so that minimum harm is done to the animal, quality/quantity of meat or other products

For Poultry….

Injection Sites

For Poultry….(schematic drawings/illustrations)

Not Recommended Recommended

REMEMBER…Quality REMEMBER…Quality Assurance ISAssurance IS

A promise from livestock producers and animal product processors to the consumers…and this promise centers on:

Safe, healthy, and good tasting/beneficial products

The food from our animals will be the highest possible quality and we will do everything we can to make these products (meat, eggs, fur, etc) safe, wholesome, and beneficial.

Your Role in the QA Your Role in the QA Promise: Promise: (reviewing, (reviewing, learning, and following these learning, and following these guidelines, will help keep our promise guidelines, will help keep our promise to consumers)to consumers)

Daily Care and Management

Prevention (Disease and Harm)

Handling (Carcass/Product Quality)

Medication (Administering and Records)