This month’s column includes reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Act, USDA’s testing of “raised without antibiotics” claims and previous testing of other animal-raising claims, invitations to listen to upcoming Angus podcasts and the American Angus Auxiliary’s Full Circle Online Auction, internships offered through Angus entities and a way to support the Angus Foundation without spending an extra dollar.

NCBA secures passage of key animal health priority

On Oct. 2, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) hailed the reauthorization of the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA), now law, following President Joe Biden’s approval of a continuing resolution to fund the government. Included in the continuing resolution, this “clean” reauthorization of ADUFA keeps the legislation in effect for another five years.

ADUFA allows the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) to collect fees from animal health companies, which fund the agency’s review and approval process for new animal drugs. ADUFA ensures that the FDA has an efficient system for authorizing new cattle medicines and diagnostic tools that keep livestock healthy and protects our safe, wholesome food supply. NCBA fought hard to ensure that this latest ADUFA reauthorization contained no post-market amendments that would harm the effectiveness of the FDA’s review process, disrupt producers’ access to cattle medicines, or simply keep the legislation from passing Congress before the Sept. 30 deadline.

USDA tests ‘raised without antibiotics’ beef claim

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are starting a new sampling program to assess whether antibiotic residues are detected in cattle intended for the “raised without antibiotics (RWA)” market.

The sampling program is part of a previously announced USDA effort to strengthen the substantiation of animal-raising claims, as the agency continues to address potentially false and misleading labels.

Plants eligible for the program are those that slaughter cattle and produce products that bear RWA claims such as “No Antibiotics,” “No Antibiotics Ever,” “Raised Without Antibiotics,” “Antibiotic Free,” “No Antibiotics Administered” or related claims.

FSIS said it will collect liver and kidney samples from eligible cattle, and ARS will analyze the samples using a method that targets more than 180 veterinary drugs from various major classes of antibiotics. If antibiotic residues are detected, FSIS will issue a letter to the facility concerning the sample results and advise the establishment to conduct a root cause analysis and take actions to prevent misbranded product in commerce. If an establishment does not receive a letter, their test results are negative and consistent with the labeling claim.

The results of this sampling will help inform whether FSIS should require that laboratory testing results be submitted for the “raised without antibiotics” claim or whether the agency should start a new verification sampling program.

— This article is written by Tom Johnston and reprinted with permission from the Sept. 26, 2023, meatingplace.com newsletter.

USDA effort to strengthen substantiation of animal-raising claims

In June USDA announced it was implementing a multistep effort aimed at strengthening the substantiation of animal-raising claims, stating the action builds on significant work USDA has already undertaken to protect consumers from false and misleading labels and to implement President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American economy.

“Consumers should be able to trust that the label claims they see on products bearing the USDA mark of inspection are truthful and accurate,” said Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Animal-raising claims, such as “grass-fed” and “free-range,” are voluntary marketing claims that highlight certain aspects of how the source animals for meat and poultry products are raised. These claims must be approved by FSIS before they can be included on the labels of meat and poultry products sold to consumers. FSIS most recently updated its guidelines on these claims in 2019.

FSIS has received several petitions, comments and letters from a wide range of stakeholders asking the agency to reevaluate its oversight of animal-raising claims, specifically, how they are substantiated.

To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

Catch up on the conversation

Tune in for Season 3 of The Angus Conversation, an Angus Journal podcast, to hear conversations on the World Angus Evaluation and Angus in the Northeast.

• “World Angus Evaluation Combines Growth, Carcass, Maternal Measures — What That Means to Breeders”
• “Bringing Bulls to the City and Buyers to the Farm: Trowbridge on Angus in the Northeast”

You can catch up on these latest episodes anywhere you get podcasts, or visit www.theangusconversation.com.

Full Circle Online Auction

The American Angus Auxiliary will host its annual Full Circle Online Auction, a national Angus consignment sale, Nov. 9 at www.anguslive.com.

The Full Circle Online Auction proceeds will support the Auxiliary’s mission, including breed promotion, beef education, and youth development through various programs, awards and scholarships.

For more information visit www.angusauxiliary.com.

Angus internship applications now open

College students with interest and experience in the beef industry can gain more hands-on involvement this next year.

Applications are now open for internships with the American Angus Association, Angus Media, Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) and Certified Angus Beef (CAB). The various opportunities cover a wide range of disciplines — from events and editorial to communications, marketing and genetics.

Applications for the internships with the Association, Angus Media and AGI are due Dec. 1. To apply, visit www.angus.org/careers.

For details and to apply for the three internships available through CAB, visit www.certifiedangusbeef.com/recruiting. Applications are due Nov. 12, 2023.

Fund the Future

The Angus Foundation “Fund the Future” program provides Angus breeders a unique and flexible opportunity to give back from their own annual production, consignment, bull or online genetic sale. Animals offered through private treaty are also eligible.

Breeders participating in the program donate a percentage of their choice on both live or genetic sale lots. The Angus Foundation will provide the program logo and footnote to distinguish a “Fund the Future” lot in the breeder’s sale book.

Participants will be recognized in the Angus Foundation Impact Report, the Angus Journal and on the Angus Foundation website.

When Angus breeders see an offering marked with the “Fund the Future” logo, they know a portion of its sale will be used to strengthen the breed by investing in its future. Proceeds will benefit the Angus Fund, which provides unrestricted dollars for the Angus Foundation’s mission of supporting Angus education, youth and research.

Contact the Angus Foundation for more information.