Medication 101: The Basics You Need To Know
Animal Science
Cynthia Gregg
Extension Agent, ANR (Animal Science)
Virginia Cooperative Extension - Brunswick County
LAWRENCEVILLE
Abstract
The agent teaching team developed Medication 101 for Cattle WISE after 2024 evaluation results indicated the need for understanding medications for cattle, the VCPR, administration routes, and recordkeeping that are essential for proper herd health management. The agent team developed hands-on lesson plan including tools that allowed in-person medication handling, label interpretation, recordkeeping and proper injection techniques using oranges and bananas. Participants were given a real-life scenario requiring them to read the label, complete vaccination records, and determine proper dosage. Participants practiced proper needle size selection and vaccine administration to fruit via subcutaneous (SubQ) and Intramuscular (IM) routes using food color-dyed saline to confirm correct administration location.
Medications, vaccines and antibiotics, are essential for proper herd health management. This is part of Beef Quality Assurance along with the antibiotic rule. Medication 101orginiated as a session to include handouts and hands-on activities. Which included proper injections and recordkeeping and understanding of the medication labels. Activities included using fruit to demonstrate proper injection methods as well as filling out a vaccination record to ensure proper recordkeeping. Results from the 2025 Cattle WISE Evaluations showed 91.8% felt more confident with proper vaccine handling, administration, label comprehension, and recordkeeping, upon completion of Medication 101.
The Agent team feels confident Medication 101 can easily be adapted and utilized at other beef meetings. The team would like to share the Medication 101 with other extension educators, to help them avoid “reinventing a program” and giving them a ready to go session to help educate youth, beginning farmer and current cattle producers. Medication 101 could easily be adapted for other species such as swine, small ruminants, horses, etc.
This upcoming year, the Agent team plans to replicate this program at the Chuteside Beef Quality Assurance training, hands on activities for Youth for the Quality Care of Animals, Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, and other livestock conference and field days. The agent team is planning Medication 201 ensure participants continue to gain knowledge and hands on experience with cattle medications and rule updates.
Authors: Cynthia Gregg, Joanne Jones, Kari Sponaugle
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Cynthia Gregg Extension Agent, ANR (Animal Science), , Virginia, 23868
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Joanne Jones Extension Agent, ANR, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 23923
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Kari Sponaugle Extension Agent, ANR, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 24484