Maintaining Medicines

Daily check:

• Check there are no needles or syringes or bottles lying around the farm
• Ensure all animals are treated as necessary
• Ensure all medicines are kept out of the reach of children

Weekly:

• Check refrigerator temperature variations
• Check medicine records or "up to" date
• Check needle/syringe and bottle disposal
• Check accident book
• Ensure feed medication and water medication protocols are being followed
• Ensure no illegal medicines are in use on the farm. All prescription medicines should be as recommended by the vet.

Monthly:

• Check medicine use
• Check for any ?short? date or out of date bottles
• Check appropriate needles are being used
• Check refrigerator and medicine storage areas
• Check vaccine program being adhered to.
• Check animal identification systems, including the slap marker

3-6 Monthly:

• Defrost the refrigerator
• Check medicine store in detail
• Discuss medicine use with the farm vet and staff
• Ensure staff are aware of any accident procedures

Medicine Control and Storage:

Control:

• The farm veterinarian should prescribe and be aware of all treatment medicines
• All medicine usage should be recorded in a medicine usage book. Records of medicine use must be completed within 72 hours of administration. Observe all withdrawal times before slaughter
• All medicine data sheets should be easily available for consultation and emergency use, e.g. self injection.
• The veterinary surgeon is required to check and advise on medicine usage, documentation and storage regularly
• Record storage temperature weekly using a Max/Min thermometer
• Check your medicine store regularly for amounts and expiry dates
• Do not hold more than one months supply on the farm at any time
• Make sure all medicines are locked away, out of the reach of children and secure at all times

Store in a Refrigerator (2 - 8^oC) Have a maximum and minimum thermometer in the fridge:

• All vaccines
• Hormones e.g. oxytocin
• Iron
• Part-used bottle tops should be cleaned before returning to fridge
• Practice good hygiene and cleanliness in the fridge
• No food is to be stored in the fridge

Store in a Dark Cupboard (8-25^oC) Have a maximum/ minimum thermometer in the fridge:

• Antibiotics
• Sedatives
• Stimulants
• Vitamins and minerals
• Disinfectants
• Part-used bottle tops should be cleaned with alcohol before returned to the cupboard
• Cupboards to be clean and either locked or the room locked
• Do not leave medicines in your farrowing or other houses