May 30 2018 03:16 PM

Dairy producers to be rewarded for the judicious use of antibiotics

The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) is once again accepting applications for its Producers for Progress Recognition Program. The program commends those who have shown commitment to the well-being of their animals through the judicious use of antibiotics.

Application forms are due Sunday, July 1, 2018, and can be found at Producers4Progress.com or by contacting your BI representative.

The top producer, as determined by a panel of industry-expert judges, will receive the grand prize of a John Deere® Gator™ Basic Package XUV825E; the first-place prize recipient wins five pairs of Bogs® Rancher boots from Bogs® Footwear; and an additional second-place winner will get 10 Udder Tech® milking aprons.

Megan Hickey

The 2017 grand prize winner, Megan Hickey of Prairieland Dairy in Firth, Nebraska, shared what the Producers for Progress award meant to her: “Winning this award has reinforced that we are doing what is right for our animals and the dairy industry,” she explained. “It is not only important to show consumers how we operate our farms, but also our fellow dairymen, so they, too, can focus on prevention and be thoughtful about using antibiotics when needed.

“Others should apply to be recognized,” added Hickey. “A lot of dedication goes into dairy farming and making sure antibiotics are handled judiciously. I think it’s great companies have programs like this to recognize producers for their hard work and dedication to prevention and individual-cow care.”

Here’s how it works

Applicants are asked to answer a few open-ended questions about their preventive management practices, views on judicious use of antibiotics, and to describe their mastitis treatment protocols.

Three dairy producers will then be selected by the judges to receive the Producers for Progress recognition, based on the following criteria:

  • Demonstrated understanding of and passion for judicious use of antibiotics;
  • Commitment to animal well-being; and
  • Being a customer of at least one BI mastitis product.

Applicant names and operations will remain anonymous during judging. Click here for official rules.

Are you or is someone you know deserving of the Producers for Progress Award? Apply by visiting Producers4Progress.com to fill out the online application form, or contact your local BI representative.

BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM

Improving the health and quality of life of patients is the goal of the research-driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. The focus in doing so is on diseases for which no satisfactory treatment option exists to date. The company therefore concentrates on developing innovative therapies that can extend patients’ lives. In animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim stands for advanced prevention.

Family-owned since it was established in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the pharmaceutical industry’s top 20 companies. Some 50,000 employees create value through innovation daily for the three business areas human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceuticals. In 2017, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of nearly 18.1 billion euros. R&D expenditure, exceeding three billion euros, corresponded to 17.0 percent of net sales.

As a family-owned company, Boehringer Ingelheim plans in generations and focuses on long-term success, rather than short-term profit. The company therefore aims at organic growth from its own resources with simultaneous openness to partnerships and strategic alliances in research. In everything it does, Boehringer Ingelheim naturally adopts responsibility towards mankind and the environment.

More information about Boehringer Ingelheim can be found on www.boehringer-ingelheim.com or in our annual report: http://annualreport.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Business Unit

Boehringer Ingelheim is the second largest animal health business in the world. We are committed to creating animal well-being through our large portfolio of advanced, preventive healthcare products and services. With net sales of €3.9 billion and around 10,000 employees worldwide, we are present in more than 150 markets. For more information click here.