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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