Answering your questions about disease prevention and food quality. (Talking quality).

Q. What do vaccines have to do with food quality?

A. A safe, wholesome food supply starts with healthy cattle, swine and poultry. Healthy animals mean higher quality meat and milk for consumers. For example, recent studies show that beef is more tender and tastes better when feedlot cattle are kept free of respiratory disease. By raising immunity levels, vaccines help to prevent infectious diseases, maintaining animals' well-being and reducing the need for antibiotic treatment. Livestock producers depend on vaccines, along with nutritious rations, clean housing and other management practices to keep animals healthy and productive.

Q. Don't vaccine injections reduce meat quality?

A. Over the last 10 years, the beef and dairy industries have made considerable progress to minimize the effect of injections on carcass quality. Producers are being educated to give injections in a small, defined area of the neck, rather than in areas with more valuable cuts. And they are encouraged whenever possible to give injections under the skin instead of into the muscle. The message clearly is getting across. The National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) shows that the frequency of injection-site lesions in the top butt dropped from 21.3 percent in 1991 to just 2.5 percent in 2000. (1)

Q. What about Novartis products?

A. Delivering high-quality consumer products is critical to the long-term success of our customers--and ultimately, to our success as well. Novartis Animal Vaccines has taken the steps necessary to obtain USDA approval for subcutaneous (under the skin) administration for key products, including Vira Shield[R]. Delivering vaccines in less invasive ways continues to be a top priority as we develop new products.

Q. How else does Novartis support food quality?

A. Through our "Hit the Zone" program, Novartis Animal Vaccines has been a leader in promoting beef quality-friendly injection techniques. In addition, we support the American Association of Swine Veterinarians and help sponsor the Dairy Quality Assurance Center's biosecurity program, aimed at preventing disease by keeping pathogens off the dairy. For more information on how Novartis supports food quality initiatives, visit the Beef Quality area of our Web site at www.livestock.novartis.com/bqa.html.

(1) Executive Summary, "Improving the Quality, Consistency and Market-share of Fed Beef," National Beef Quality Audit, 2000

Ron Cravens, MS, DVM 

President and CEO 

Novartis Animal Vaccines, Inc.