The Veterinary Feed Directive’s Mission And The Regulations On The Livestock Industry

By Miranda Grisham

Starting January 1st, 2017, livestock producers will have to follow the new Veterinary Feed Directive. The VFD was implemented by the Food and Drug Administration to set new industry guidelines. The VFD will require farmers to get prescriptions on antimicrobial drugs administered via feed and water, but not via injection. The government changed the rules regarding antibiotic use in the livestock industry to limit the use of low dose antibiotics to decrease bacterial resistance to the antibiotics. It was also designed to satisfy consumers and provide oversight on the use of antibiotics. The VFD will require some livestock producers to reevaluate their current herd health plans, and perhaps work closer with their veterinarians.

The VFD has been in place for several drugs in the high potential for risk category for years. The new regulations have an expanded list with reclassified drugs to make the VFD more efficient and comprehensive. The FDA wants to enforce that antibiotics are being used judiciously in food-producing animals and are permitted only for necessary therapeutic use. Drugs that are available over the counter are not impacted, nor are injectable drugs. The drugs that will be regulated by the VFD include:

· Aminoglycosides

· Diaminopyrimidines

· Lincosamides

· Macrolides

· Penicillins

· Streptogramins

· Sulfas

· Tetracycline

As of January 1st, 2017, it will be illegal to use these medically important antibiotics for production purposes. Animal producers will need to obtain authorization from a licensed veterinarian to use them for prevention, control, or treatment of a specifically identified disease. Drugs that are added to water will require a prescription, and those added to feed will require a VFD. There will be no open reorders that will be allowed, and there are restrictions regarding refills.

All stages of an operation will be impacted, most milk replacers are medicated and it is one of the feed-grade antibiotic products that fall under the Veterinary Feed Directive. Under the VFD, a producer will have to get a prescription from a veterinarian, fill it at a local distributor that is registered for the specific prescription. The FDA has rules and regulations in place to ensure every qualification of the directive is met. After the producer receives an antibiotic that is on the VFD list, the veterinarian and the producer must keep a record of the transaction for two years with a signed copy from the veterinarian that issued the prescription.

The VFD will also influence veterinarians, producers, and feed mills. Manufacturers and feed mills have until December 2016 to implement labeling changes, licensing, and distribution changes to fit the new regulations. The regulations will also control combination feed products, which involve at least one ingredient covered under the VFD. The feed mills will have to have a closer communication with their customers and attain the correct licensing to handle antibiotics listed under the VFD. The Producer will also have to create a closer relationship with a veterinarian. A requirement of the VFD is that there is an existing Veterinary-Client Patient Relationship, (VCPR). Under the VCPR, the Veterinarian will assume responsibility for the clinical judgment of the herd’s health. Then they will establish sufficient knowledge of your herd by virtue to examination and visit the facility. The vet will then also provide any necessary follow-up evaluation or care of your herd.

A large concern about the VFD is the costs for the producer. The VFD will take more time away from the veterinarians and the feed mills. Producers are worried that the cost will fall back onto them, adding to their costs on their farms. Veterinarians are busy, and with the implement of the VFD, their time will be come even more costly.

Livestock producers need to educate themselves on how the VFD will impact their farm. The average producers will really only face two big changes in January 2017. The first big change will be that the companies that produced feed medications will no longer sell the medications for growth promotion purposes. The second change will be that a VFD is required on antibiotics that are in the category of being important to human medicine. Typically the antibiosis used in prevention, control, or treatment of a disease

To best prepare for the changes that producers will face with the VFD, producers should call a veterinarian before January 2017, and have them evaluate at your herd. Explain to the veterinarian our operation and concerns or issues you tend to see at your farm.

For more information on the process and regulations of the VFD, click the link below.

-Cattle Network, Greely Tribune, Pipe Stone System, and FDA, all contributed to this report.