Medicine records and storage
Veterinary medicines are an important tool in your disease prevention toolbox. It is vital that medicines are properly stored and recorded. There is a legal responsibility to do this, but it also makes good business sense.
Medicines should be stored in locked, clean facilities, and for those requiring cold storage, this must be a fully functioning secure fridge, dedicated for farm medicines only.
It is a good idea to record any medicines taken out or returned to the storage facility.
Record any discarded medicines and have a system on farm for collecting any discarded medicines and medicine packages.
Maintain a record of use by dates and dates when medicines were opened.
Make sure that anyone with access to medicines has been properly trained to use them, understands the legal requirements for using them, and also knows how to discard any used medicines safely.
Vaccination
One of the best ways to protect your animals from disease, is to use vaccines appropriately.
A vaccine protocol on farm should complement strong biosecurity measures.
Farm animal vaccines are prescribed medicines so conversations between animal keepers, vets or SQP / RAMAs will provide a strong first step.
Consider signing up to the Defra Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to get a government funded vet visit which could include a biosecurity and medicine audit.
