our advice : ASK DR . CATE
Vet Rap by Dr . Ryan Cate
VFD – What are they and what do they do ?
DECEMBER 2016 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
Question : Dear Dr . Cate , Our vet suggested using a VFD on one of my cows . I didn ’ t want him to think I ’ m totally clueless , so I thought I ’ d ask you . What on earth is a VFD ? Yours truly , Baffled in Brock
Answer :
A VFD is a veterinary feed directive . It ’ s used for the prevention , treatment or control of specific bacterial diseases . The driving force for VFDs is the concern for antibiotic resistance associated with daily antibiotic use in animal feeds . Over a decade ago , the decision was made to move toward removing all antibiotic use in livestock that was associated with growth and / or feed efficiency or long-term use over 21 consecutive days that allowed extended time for bacteria to develop resistance . The VFD concept became the option for allowing vital feed antibiotic use in livestock for protection of their health and well-being . Antibiotics approved for use under the VFD regulations will be for prevention , treatment and / or control of specific bacterial diseases . They can only be given by a licensed veterinarian who has knowledge of the animals in question and will continue to monitor their care .
Are VFDs safe to use in food animals ? What will I be required to provide upon the sale ?
There is a specific form that requires the veterinarian ’ s client ’ s name , address , phone number , location of the animals , the approximate weight , and the number of animals that will be covered under the VFD . A copy of the signed form must be kept for two years . VFD medication uses records including feed-mixing records that must be kept and provided to the Federal Drug Administration if requested . No FDA inspectors will come to the operation using a VFD unless they are using the most concentrated VFD product available and the VFD requires a withdrawal time . The most concentrated FDA-approved feed additive is known as a “ Type A Article ” drug and it is classified as a “ Category 2 ” drug if a withdrawal time is required .
You ’ re probably wondering if you ’ ll always need to see a veterinarian to get a VFD ?
Not necessarily . If the cattle owner or manager has a VCPR ( Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship ) with a veterinarian , together they can develop outlines for situations when VFD medication use would be appropriate . Using these outlines , VFD usage can be anticipated and in many situations the VFD medication can be available as required to address the health and well-being of the cattle without the veterinarian personally evaluating the cattle . For example , a veterinarian can develop guidelines and training for tentatively diagnosing a disease listed on the approved VFD medication and documentation of the trained personnel will allow the use of the VFD medication without the animals being personally evaluated by their veterinarian .
The VFD regulations went into effect June 3 , 2015 . Currently , feed manufactures are revising medicated feed labels to remove all feeding performance statements . These labels will read for use to treat , control or prevent a disease . The first of these revised labels will be available Jan . 1 , 2016 . Labeling transition will continue to Jan . 1 , 2017 , when all feed-grade antibiotics will require a valid VFD .
What products require a VFD ?
All feed-use antibiotics that the FDA , World Health Organization and Center for Disease Control .
Considered , “ medically important to humans ,” currently , the FDA has approved one VFD antibiotic , tilmicosin ( Pulmotil ), for use in cattle feed to control Bovine Respiratory Disease . Medically important antibiotics currently being used in cattle feeds that have label indications for prevention , treatment and / or control of specific bacterial diseases as required by the VFD regulations will require new approvals by the FDA to continue the feed antibiotic use when the VFD regulation becomes effective . Ask your veterinarian for a complete list
What products don ’ t require a VFD ?
VFD regulations focus on “ Medically Important Antibiotics ,” as these represent the only medication type that has been identified that the use in livestock feed could potentially jeopardize the drug ’ s effectiveness in humans . Therefore , medications used to control parasites , reproduction , bloat , etc ., will not require a VFD .
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our advice: ASK DR. CATE
Vet Rap by
Dr. Ryan Cate
VFD – What are they and
what do they do?
DECEMBER 2016
PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
Question:
Dear Dr. Cate,
Our vet suggested using a VFD on one of my cows. I didn’t
want him to think I’m totally clueless, so I thought I’d ask
you. What on earth is a VFD?
Yours truly,
Baffled in Brock
Answer:
A VFD is a veterinary feed directive. It’s used for the
prevention, treatment or control of specific bacterial
diseases. The driving force for VFDs is the concern for
antibiotic resistance associated with daily antibiotic use in
animal feeds. Over a decade ago, the decision was made
to move toward removing all antibiotic use in livestock
that was associated with growth and/or feed efficiency
or long-term use over 21 consecutive days that allowed
extended time for bacteria to develop resistance. The
VFD concept became the option for allowing vital feed
antibiotic use in livestock for protection of their health and
well-being. Antibiotics approved for use under the VFD
regulations will be for prevention, treatment and/or control
of specific bacterial diseases. They can only be given by a
licensed veterinarian who has knowledge of the animals in
question and will continue to monitor their care.
Are VFDs safe to use in food animals? What will I be
required to provide upon the sale?
There is a specific form that requires the veterinarian’s
client’s name, address, phone number, location of the
animals, the approximate weight, and the number of
animals that will be covered under the VFD. A copy of the
signed form must be kept for two years. VFD medication
uses records including feed-mixing records that must be
kept and provided to the Federal Drug Administration if
requested. No FDA inspectors will come to the operation
using a VFD unless they are using the most concentrated
VFD product available and the VFD requires a withdrawal
time. The most concentrated FDA-approved feed additive
is known as a “Type A Article” drug and it is classified as a
“Category 2” drug if a withdrawal time is required.
You’re probably wondering if you’ll always need to see
a veterinarian to get a VFD?
62
Not necessarily. If the cattle owner or manager has
a VCPR (Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship) with
a veterinarian, together they can develop outlines
for situations when VFD medication use would be
appropriate. Using these outlines, VFD usage can be
anticipated and in many situations the VFD medication
can be available as required to address the health and
well-being of the cattle without the veterinarian personally
evaluating the cattle. For example, a veterinarian can
develop guidelines and training for tentatively diagnosing
a disease listed on the approved VFD medication and
documentation of the trained personnel will allow the
use of the VFD medication without the animals being
personally evaluated by their veterinarian.
The VFD regulations went into effect June 3, 2015.
Currently, feed manufactures are revising medicated feed
labels to remove all feeding performance statements.
These labels will read for use to treat, control or prevent a
disease. The first of these revised labels will be available
Jan. 1, 2016. Labeling transition will continue to Jan. 1,
2017, when all feed-grade antibiotics will require a valid
VFD.
What products require a VFD?
All feed-use antibiotics
that the FDA, World Health Organization and Center for
Disease Control.
Considered, “medically important to humans,”
currently, the FDA has approved one VFD antibiotic,
tilmicosin (Pulmotil), for use in cattle feed to control
Bovine Respiratory Disease. Medically important
antibiotics currently being used in cattle feeds that have
label indications for prevention, treatment and/or control
of specific bacterial diseases as required by the VFD
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