The Dairy Practitioner and the American Veterinary Medical Association/ National Milk Producers Federation Quality Assurance Program for Milk and Dairy Beef

Abstract

The Milk and Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Protocol (MDBQAP)¹ began as a collaborative effort on the part of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) to overcome unfavorable publicity, which was scientifically unsubstantiated, regarding pharmaceutical residues in milk which had been sold in certain areas of the United States. In addition there existed concern over the incidence of pharmaceutical residues occurring in cull dairy cows as reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Service. Since both veterinarians and producers were implicated in these issues, it was loitcal that the two organizations cooperate and respond in a proactive manner.