What is rusty, crusty, too cold and too old? Refrigerators used by animal producers to store animal vaccines.
According to a research project funded by the Arkansas Beef Council and conducted by Dr. Tom Troxel, professor and associate department head of animal science with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture in Little Rock, 73 percent of refrigerators he tested are unacceptable for storing animal health products.
During the final meeting of the Beef Cattle Short Course program hosted by Washington County Extension Service each Monday night in February, Troxel reported more findings of the study.
According to Troxel, today’s beef producers can not afford to gamble when administering vaccines.
“Refrigeration is required for most animal health products. The biological products should be kept under refrigeration between 35-45 degrees unless otherwise labeled. Storing animal health products at less than 35 degrees can be more damaging than storing products at more than 45 degrees because the antigen can separated from the adjuvant,” said Troxel.
The study used Watch Dog data loggers to monitor and record refrigerators’ temperatures every 10 minutes for 48 hours. The study included 191 refrigerators of producers, retail stores and veterinarian clinics. The types of refrigerators tested varied from top freezer refrigerators, side-by-side refrigerators and mini refrigerators.
The refrigerators were grouped into four groups. They included less than five years, six to 10 years, 11 to 15 years and greater than 15 years old.
Of the 1,800 animal health products stored in the 191 refrigerators, 12 percent were expired and 29 percent were opened.
Producers should note, mixed modified live vaccines should be disposed of one hour after mixing. Killed vaccines should be disposed of approximately 10 days after opening.
The study showed only 27 percent of the tested refrigerators maintained temperatures within 35 degrees to 45 degrees more than 95 percent of the time. In fact, 24 percent of the recorded temperatures in the desired range less than 5 percent of the time. The results of the study showed 73 percent of the refrigerators tested are unacceptable for storing animal health products.
“When animal health products are stored incorrectly, the effectiveness of the animal health products may become compromised. All animal health products that are expired should be disposed of properly,” said Troxel.
For more information contact your county extension office.
