Feed Certification

These documents were produced in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), the Ontario Cattlemen's Association and the Ontario Cattle Feeders' Association

• Violative Residues Documentation Form - for all Ontario Cattle Producers

• Absence of Prohibited Materials Declaration Form - for Ontario Cattle Producers who feed only Home Grown Feed Rations

• Absence of Prohibited Materials Declaration Form- for Ontario Cattle Producers who A) Purchase feed supplements and complete rations and do not mix rations on their farm or B) Who purchase feed ration components and supplements and mix feed rations on their premises.

Why do we need this certification?

Food suppliers including restaurants, retailers, processors and packers are under increasing scrutiny to supply safe food products. If a product is found to cause a health problem, then the reputation of the foodstuff, the brand label or the supplier can be destroyed overnight. In some cases financial liability can wipe out a business. Therefore, food suppliers are demanding proof or certification from their suppliers, including farmers, that food products are safe.

The federal Health of Animals Act prohibits the feeding of specified mammalian products to ruminant animals. Federal and Ontario regulatory bodies and laws are in place to protect consumers and animals from the illegal sale and misuse of animal health products. Testing programs are in place to detect  drug residues. Recalls of contaminated product may be required.

This documentation/forms will assist Ontario livestock producers to verify that market animals were not knowingly fed prohibited byproducts of ruminant animals and that the same animals are free of any violative residues from animal health products.

Documents/forms are for the following:

1. Violative Residues Declaration for all Ontario cattle producers

2. Absense of Prohibited Materials Declaration for Ontario Cattle producers who feed only home grown rations.

3. a) Absence of Prohibited Materials Declaration for Ontario cattle producers who purchase feed supplements and complete rations but do not mix on their premises
   b) Absence of Prohibited Materials Declaration for Ontario Cattle Producers who purchase feed ration components and supplements and mix feed rations on their premises.

For further information contact: Don Blakely, Beef Quality Assurance Program Lead, OMAFRA, Wellington Place, R.R.#1 Fergus, ON, N1M 2W3. Telephone: (519)846-3396 or email to dblakely@omafra.gov.on.ca

Definitions

Violative Residues
"Contamination of livestock by a substance not permitted by, or in an amount in excess of limits prescribed under, the Food and Drug Act (Canada), the Canadian Environmental Protection Act or the Pest Control Products Act (Canada) as per Ontario Regulation 318/99 Livestock and Livestock Products – 3. (2)(a)."

Extra Label/Off Label
When animal health products are administered differently from what is stated on the label of the product it is defined as extra label/off label use. Examples are usage on a different species of animal, on different weights and/or ages of animal, by a different route of administration and altering the dosage rate or frequency of treatment.

Prohibited Material
"Anything that is, or that contains any, protein that originated from a mammal, other than a porcine or an equine. It does not include milk, blood, gelatin, rendered animal fat or their products. Health of Animals Regulations (SOR/97-362, Section 162-1)." "No person shall feed prohibited material to a ruminant (Section 164)."

Best Management Practices to Avoid Cross-contamination of Livestock Feeds

• Request a 'Feed Manufacturer Certificate' declaring that the purchased feed is free of prohibited materials in accordance with the federal Health of Animals Regulation.

• Verify that the feed received is what was ordered and meets all specifications.

• Check the label on the feed shipment (bags or bulk) for the statement, "Do not feed to cattle, sheep, deer or other ruminants." Feed with this label contains materials prohibited for ruminants.

• Store feeds intended for various classes of stock in separate locations/feed bins.

• Ensure that each storage location is labeled and signed according to feed type.

• Ensure that employees are trained and knowledgeable of each feed type, handling and mixing procedures, and the class of livestock to receive that feed.

• Ensure that bins are constructed to avoid any cross-contamination of feeds due to spillage.

• Maintain a clean feed storage area. Collect any spilled material and dispose promptly and safely.

• Establish a sequence for feed mixing, commencing with feed mixes requiring no additives.

• Thoroughly clean mixing equipment where health products or prohibited material (proteins from a mammal) have been added to a feed ration. If using the flushing method, dispose of "cleaning material" promptly and safely.

• Thoroughly clean all storage areas and handling equipment including delivery trucks, feed carts and pails if used for feed containing health products or prohibited material. Any physical means (vacuuming, sweeping, washing, or other suitable method) that is appropriate and does not cross-contaminate other areas can be used for clean out. Ensure that dust or washwater does not contaminate other feeds, and/or is disposed of promptly and safely.

• Maintain records of each feed delivery including delivery date, a description of the feed, and the invoice.

• Sample each feed on delivery; identify the sample and store the sample in a dry location

Critical Management Procedures

The Quality Starts Here Program developed by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association lists the following critical management procedures. Every cattle producer should ensure that the following points are met in their beef production operation in order to provide assurances of a safe beef product.

• A valid veterinary/client/patient relationship is established.

• All animals are individually, uniquely and permanently identified.

• All animals are handled in a humane and ethical manner and are given appropriate processing and treatment care.

• Animal health products, including feed additives, are purchased from reputable suppliers who follow good manufacturing practices and follow quality assurance and improvement practices.

• Animal health products, including feed additives and pesticides, are properly labeled and stored according to manufacturer’s directions.

• Animal health products, including feed medications, are used according to label instruction. Off-label or extra-label use of medications is only legal with a veterinary prescription.

• All drug withdrawals are carefully monitored and cattle are not shipped to slaughter until they have met the withdrawal period.

• Written or computerized processing, treatment, feed medication, feed prescription, and feed records are correctly completed, initialed by responsible crew, and stored for two years.

• Equipment, including syringes, surgical equipment, and feed storage, mixing and delivery equipment receive regular maintenance and are cleaned to avoid drug contamination. Feed sequencing is used to prevent drug carry-over.

• Contaminated and outdated animal health products, pesticides, and feed additives are disposed of in an environmentally safe manner according to label directions and municipality bylaws.

• All broken needles are found and removed from the animal or the animal is identified as suspect and the processor is informed at shipment.

• Staff, including temporary/seasonal employees, are properly trained before using animal health products; training is ongoing; and staff are regularly monitored.

• Facilities, including feeding and hospital pens, holding and working areas, waterers, and livestock trucks are regularly cleaned to avoid residues, tag build-up on cattle hides, and contamination of water sources.

By following these critical management procedures, beef packers and processors will be assured of a safe product.