The new Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rules will go into effect Jan. 1, 2017 and will impact the availability of medicated feed for farmers and ranchers.
The Animal Health Institute, National Pork Producers Council, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Animal Agriculture Alliance launched a new website aimed at educating farmers, ranchers and consumers about the impending rules.
Spurred by consumer interest in how food animals are raised and government agencies and researchers monitoring antibiotic resistance, the directive will affect each farmer and rancher in the Lone Star State. And the U.S.
The new VFD rules mean antibiotics for livestock that are similar to those used in humans will no longer be used for animal growth purposes, according to Drovers.
The VFD rule will end over-the-counter sales of medically important antimicrobial drugs intended for use in feed or water, according to Tracy Tomascik, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities. Farmers and ranchers will be required to get prescriptions for the use of feed-grade and water-soluble antibiotics. To get a prescription, livestock and poultry owners must first establish a veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR).
“In order for farmers and ranchers to have access to antibiotics under this rule, they will have to work more closely with their veterinarians,” Tomascik said. “This ongoing relationship with a veterinarian who knows the herd, its health needs and understands the dynamics of the VFD will be beneficial for all involved.”
The medically important antimicrobial drugs can be used for prevention and treatment of disease, but cannot be used for performance.
“Veterinarians provide a critical service by keeping farm animals healthy, thereby safeguarding human health,” Dr. Richard Carnevale, vice president of Regulatory, Scientific and International Affairs at the Animal Health Institute, told Drovers. “As a veterinarian, I hope the ‘togetherABX’ effort will result in greater public understanding of the role of veterinarians.”
Visit the site at www.togetherABX.com.