Beef forum kicks off bull sale week

In Red Bluff, Calif., this morning, ranchers and others piled into the Don Smith Pavilion for a pancake breakfast and forum on the use of antibiotics in beef cattle, all to kick off the five-day Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale.

The forum featured Eric Moore, a Kansas-based veterinarian for Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health, who was there to explain why some treatments work to combat bovine respiratory disease while others fail. Despite the fact that antibiotic use has been "under attack," it all falls under strict regulations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture, he said.

"If you see this Rx sign on a product, that's a prescription product," Moore told the gathering. "There are laws that govern using this product."

Activities at the Tehama District Fair grounds continued this morning with sifting and grading of calving-ease and range ready bulls in the pavilion.

For my story on the antibiotics lecture, check back at CapitalPress.com soon.