APVMA assessment dag removal enzymes

Summary

One of the key issues faced by the feedlot industry is the presence of dags; the build-up of mud and manure on the hides of cattle. MLA has been working with two commercial partners to progress the development of an enzyme-based solution to feedlot dags.

This project was initiated to obtain clarity from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) on whether the dag removing product is captured under the APVMA legislation, and would therefore require registration as a veterinary chemical product.

The results of this project provide information about the extent of data collection required during trial work to take the dag removal product to market. Written advice was received in May 2020 confirming the proposed product does not require registration by the APVMA.

Objectives

The objective of this project was to determine the APVMA registration requirements for a topically applied enzyme-based dag solution and provide recommendations on the testing and documentation required to support the registration application.

Key findings

• The review found that enzyme-based topical solutions for removal of dags from feedlot cattle hides do not require registration by the APVMA as veterinary chemical products.
• The saleability of feedlot cattle treated with the enzyme-based product during the research and development (R&D) trials was not impacted.
• MLA will now work with the commercial partners and co-operator feedlots to finalise the R&D and commercialisation activities required to take the product to market.

Benefits to industry

This project had provided clarity and a clear regulatory pathway for the future research and development of enzyme-based topical solutions for removal of dags from cattle hides. It also provides certainty to feedlot co-operators that the use of the enzyme-based solution on trial animals will not impact the saleability of their animals.

MLA action

MLA has distributed the project findings to the two commercial partners developing the enzyme-based solution for feedlot dags, which has provided them with clear direction for the R&D activities required to commercialise the product.

Future research

MLA will now work with the commercial partners and co-operator feedlots to finalise the research and development and commercialisation activities required to take any developed product to market.