Beware of bute residue

Sir,

At a recent veterinary seminar the attendance was reminded about their responsibility in filling in the medicine details on equine passports.

It was emphasised that phenylbutazone is a potentially carcinogenic and certainly toxic medication, which, because of safer alternatives, should be banned. Any equine that is treated with ‘bute’ is, of course, unsuitable for disposal in a factory and the passport is so endorsed.

What was, perhaps, far more interesting and informative was the revelations of the presence of bute in an animal’s body.

An example was given of a bull which failed the bute test after slaughter.

After a lot of investigations it was found that a horse across the yard was given two sachets of the medicine for two days and some of its bedding was moved to a bare patch in the bull’s loading area to facilitate safe loading, on to transport to the factory.

The bull obviously ingested some of the straw containing the horse’s urine.

It was also shown that research has proven that cattle grazing on ground where horses treated with bute had been returned a positive test for bute for up to 21 days (because the minimum residue level – MRL – is so low).

The cattle were ingesting grass that (a) was sprayed with the equine urine and (b) was absorbed by the growing grass.

It is surely time to considered using alternative and safer pain-killing medicines. – Yours etc.,

EDWARD M LYNCH MVB, MRCVS,

South Mall,

Lismore,

Co Waterford.

Great event

Sir,

Just a note of thanks to everyone who helped to organise a very successful 38th annual point-to-point awards last Saturday in Wexford.

It was my first time attending the event and found it thoroughly enjoyable. The location was perfect, given the incredible success Wexford people are achieving in the sector.

The MC for the night, Richard Pugh, did a superb job.

His ability to list out key statistics and figures in such an informative and engaging fashion knows no bounds. The whole occasion reflected brilliantly on the point-to-point community.

Congratulations to everyone and a special thanks to the organisers and sponsors. – Yours etc.,

CATHAL ENNIS,

Quill Farm,

Castletown-Geoghegan,

Co Westmeath.

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