continued from page 36
45 ° F greater than 95 % of the time over a 48-hour period . On the other end of the spectrum , 24 % recorded temperatures within 35 ° to 45 ° F less than 5 % of the time over 48 hours . In one extreme example , the temperature never dropped below 50 ° F in a producer ’ s ice box that was kept closed with a strap .
The study included 269 refrigerators of producers , retail stores and veterinary clinics . A data logger was used to monitor and record the refrigerator temperature every 10 minutes for 48 hours .
A case study conducted at the University of Idaho ( UI ) in 2013 found much the same . About a third of the 176 refrigerators — producer and retailer — maintained the recommended temperature range , while about a third did so less than 5 % of the time .
Only 44 % of retailers in the study had thermometers to monitor refrigerator temperatures , and 41 % didn ’ t monitor their refrigerators .
Impacts of Too Warm and Cold
According to the UA researchers , “ Storing animal health products at < 35 ° F can be more damaging than storing animal health products at > 45 ° F because the antigen can separate from the adjuvant .”
“ Killed vaccines are especially susceptible to freezing temperatures ,” Mourer said . “ Freezing a killed vaccine will alter its delivery system . In turn , this negatively affects the immune response to the antigen in the vaccine .”
Further , Mourer pointed to a UI study showing that modified live viruses ( MLV ) are more stable but can be inactivated if they are repeatedly cycled above or below the required temperature range . Once activated by mixing , he explains the effective life on an MLV will be reduced to an hour or two , during which the 35 ° to 45 ° F range should be maintained .
“ This can be accomplished by only mixing the doses a producer will use at the time and using a cooler to maintain the proper temperature range while working cattle ,” Mourer said .
Monitoring Your Temperature
Monitoring the temperature of the refrigerator you use for storing animal health products is as simple as installing a thermometer and checking it on a routine basis . continued on page 40
LIMOUSIN
1971-2021
Twenty-ONE Years of Predictability Spring production Sale 70 Age Advantaged Coming Two Year Old Bulls 50 Commercial / Registered Bred and Open Heifers Limousin • Lim-Flex • Red Angus
Monday , January 25 , 2021
1:30 p . m . CT at the Ranch • Wood Lake , NE
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38 • JANUARY 2021