Silas C. Lawhorn – FDA Warning Letter, Dec 19, 2014

On December 16 and 19, 2014, the FDA investigated Silas C. Lawhorn's cattle farm in Bedford, Virginia, finding violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. A beef cow sold for slaughter on February 8, 2014, and slaughtered on February 11, 2014, by (b)(4), was found to have 2.914 ppm of tilmicosin residue in muscle and 19.994 ppm in liver, exceeding the FDA tolerances of 0.1 ppm and 1.2 ppm, respectively (21 C.F.R. 556.735). This rendered the food adulterated under sections 402(a)(2)(C)(ii) and 402(a)(4) of the FD&C Act.

Specific violations included: failure to inquire about the medication status of purchased animals; administering the prescription drug (b)(4) (tilmicosin, (b)(4)) to an Angus beef cow for pneumonia in early December 2014 without a lawful written or oral veterinarian's order; and lacking an adequate drug inventory system. Lawhorn is responsible for ensuring compliance and must take prompt action to correct violations and prevent recurrence. Failure to comply may result in regulatory action like seizure or injunction. A written response detailing corrective actions and timelines is required