Regulation .03 When Permitted.
Regulation .03 When Permitted.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Except as provided in this regulation, a person may administer a medically important antimicrobial drug to cattle, swine, or poultry if, in the professional judgment of a licensed veterinarian, the medically important antimicrobial drug is necessary:
(1)
To treat a disease or infection;
(2)
To control the spread of a disease or infection; or
(3)
For a surgery or medical procedure.
B.
A person may administer a medically important antimicrobial drug to cattle, swine, or poultry if, in the professional judgment of a licensed veterinarian, the medically important antimicrobial drug is necessary for prophylaxis to address an elevated risk of contraction of a particular disease or infection.
C.
Unless administration of a medically important antimicrobial drug is consistent with §A of this regulation, a person may not administer a medically important antimicrobial drug in a regular pattern to cattle, swine, or poultry.
D.
A person may not administer a medically important antimicrobial drug to cattle, swine, or poultry solely for the purpose of:
(1)
Promoting weight gain; or
(2)
Improving feed efficiency.
E.
Dry Cow Treatment.
(1)
General Rule Requiring Assessment. The administration of a medically important antimicrobial drug to a cow entering a dry cycle is prohibited except when the cow is diagnosed with a bacterial intramammary infection (mastitis).
(2)
Methods of Assessing Mastitis in an Individual Cow.
(a)
Tests. A person may assess the presence of mastitis in an individual cow through one or more of the following tests:
(i)
A positive bacterial culture test;
(ii)
A positive California Mastitis Test;
(iii)
A somatic cell count for an individual cow greater than 200,000 cells per milliliter in the most recent lactation; and
(iv)
Any other assessment method approved by the Secretary generally recognized by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners.
(b)
Signs of Mastitis. A person may assess the presence of mastitis in an individual cow using one or more of the following indicators:
(i)
Visibly abnormal milk including the presence of clots, blood, or discoloration; or
(ii)
Heat, pain, tenderness, or swelling of a gland.
(c)
A licensed veterinarian may assess the presence of mastitis in an individual cow through the observation of clinical signs of mastitis.