Veterinary Feed Directive — Where Do We Go From Here?
By Kristin Lewis Hawkins
Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rules and regulations become law on Jan. 1, 2017. This will mean that the purchase of certain medically necessary antimicrobial drugs that are intended for use in or on the feed used for food production animals will require the supervision and order of a licensed veterinarian.
Public concern about the use of antimicrobials in animals destined for consumption has prompted the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to enact a plan to eliminate the use of medically important antibiotics for production purposes such as growth promotion and feed efficiency. The VFD rule was developed to bring this class of drugs under veterinary oversight in a way that still allows for the judicious use of VFD drugs when deemed medically appropriate.
Veterinarians will play an integral role in the VFD rules by ensuring proper use according to label directions and only when appropriate to meet specific needs. By adding this level of oversight, the veterinarian can ensure proper use of the drug, including the appropriate duration of treatment and dose.
Producers will be required to establish a veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) and have that veterinarian examine their animal(s) before they are able to purchase or obtain a feed containing a VFD drug or combination of drugs. Only after the animal has been examined will a VFD be issued.
Some previously allowed uses of medicated feeds will become illegal, such as for production purposes or to improve feed efficiency and growth. In addition, the extra label use of approved drugs in animals by or on the lawful order of licensed veterinarians is limited to situations where the health of an animal is threatened or suffering or death may result from failure to treat. No other extra label use is permitted.
Where will the VFD rule take us in 2017? It’s hard to tell. There will certainly be growing pains at each stop on the food animal production chain, from producer and veterinarian to feed manufacturer and distributor.
Problems may arise and solutions found, to varying degrees of efficiency. What will remain important for everyone at each link in the production chain will be communication. Keep in touch with your veterinarian and check in from time to time with your local feed distributor or dealer. Even if your animals remain healthy, it’s a good idea to keep abreast of any changes.
TSCRA will keep members informed via The Cattleman magazine, The Cattleman NOW smartphone app and online at tscra.org in case new information or changes occur to the VFD rules. To find official updates and a complete list of the medications affected, visit FDA.gov and search “VFD.”
The following resources for VFD and antibiotic and antimicrobial use in food production animals are also available to producers, veterinarians and feed distributors:
- FDA.gov is the official website for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, the regulatory agency in charge of VFD rulemaking and enforcement.
- Animal Agriculture Alliance at animalagalliance.org is a non-profit industry organization that helps bridge the communication gap from farm to fork. They offer a wealth of facts and information on a variety of topics regarding the use of antibiotics and antimicrobials in food animal production.
- American Veterinary Medical Association at avma.org. Search “VFD” for fact sheets and instructions and information for veterinarians.
- Beefusa.org is the official website of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and offers an Antibiotics Resource Center under their Producer Education menu. Here you can find fact sheets, webinars, printable and downloadable brochures, requirements and guides on how to talk to people outside the industry about antibiotics.
- GlobalVetLINK® at globalvetlink.com is a provider of electronic health and VFD certificate software and offers free webinars, fact sheets and resources for all members of the beef production chain, including producers.
- Visit the website for the company that manufacturers or distributes a specific drug or feed for more information. Most provide sample labels of all their products, including further information on its use and where to purchase locally.
- Don’t forget to check out the Resources section in the Member Center at tscra.org. This area offers a wealth of information on a variety of topics, including VFD, and is only available to members of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
“Veterinary Feed Directive” is excerpted each month from The Cattleman magazine.