Tracking Withdrawal and Booster Dates
Withdrawal and booster dates help you manage medication compliance and follow-up schedules across your herd.
Withdrawal Dates
A withdrawal date is the date after which an animal is clear of a medication and can be safely sold or processed. This is set when you record a treatment.
- Check before selling. Before marketing an animal, review its treatment records to ensure all withdrawal periods have elapsed.
- Calculated from the label. Withdrawal periods are specified on the medication label. Add the withdrawal days to the treatment date to determine the withdrawal date.
Booster Dates
A booster date is when a follow-up dose of a medication or vaccine is due. This is set when you record the initial treatment.
- Review upcoming boosters. Check treatment records across your herd to identify animals with upcoming booster dates.
- Record the booster as a new treatment. When you administer the booster, add it as a new treatment record on the animal.
Tips
- Always set withdrawal dates on market animals. This protects food safety and your operation’s reputation.
- Plan workings around booster schedules. If many animals have boosters due around the same time, schedule a working to process them together.
- Include withdrawal info in sale notes. When selling, be prepared to provide treatment records and withdrawal dates to the buyer.