VFD is coming… are you ready?

Nifty

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This article is sponsored by Sav-A-Caf

VFD is coming… are you ready?

Prepare your calf feeding plan to get ahead of the change.

Have you heard of the new Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD)? If not, chances are if you own animals, you will soon. These new regulations will go into effect Jan. 1, 2017 and may have a big impact on how you currently feed calves on your farm. Taking steps now can help make your transition to VFD-compliance a smooth one.

In most cases, the biggest change you will see with these new regulations is certain medicated feeds you currently purchase will no longer be available without a VFD document from your veterinarian. In order to purchase and use these products, you will be required to have an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). Once you have a VCPR, you can work with your vet to obtain a VFD, similar to a prescription for a medical condition. The VFD will allow you to purchase and use specific feeds.

Look to the following checklist as a guide to help you prepare for the new VFD regulations.
  • Take an inventory of the current drugs and feed containing antibiotics that you use. Don’t overlook products like milk replacer, milk additives and calf starter. Review the list with your veterinarian to determine if any of those products will require a VFD to continue using them.
  • Do you currently have a relationship with an established veterinarian? If not, you can contact your local Extension agent to help locate a vet near your farm.
  • Do you have a safe place to store VFD documentation from your veterinarian? You will need to keep VFD records on file for two years. Records can be stored electronically or as hard copies. You will need to determine a method that works best for you and your farm to maintain and file these records.
  • Will your feed mill or farm store continue to supply the medicated feed, premixes and water-based medications you use? Talk to them ahead of time to see what changes they will be making as a result of the VFD regulations.
Consider alternative nutrition options available on the market that you could use in place of your current feeds. Stay ahead of this monumental change while also supporting calf health and growth with the new Sav-A-Caf® Calf Health Supplement, designed for use in whole milk and milk replacers.

Use best management practices to optimize animal health and help reduce the need for antimicrobials. Management areas like sanitation and ventilation become much more important. Consider higher feeding levels as well, especially during the winter, so that you are sure that your animals have the necessary nutrients for optimal growth and a strong immune system.

More details to keep in mind

When you obtain a written VFD from your veterinarian, it will be exclusive to a set of animals receiving treatment for a specified timeline.

Leftover medicated feed cannot be fed past the duration of use on the label or fed to other animals.

It’s important to keep track of when your VFDs expires and when you will need a new one from your veterinarian.

It’s not too soon to start talking with your vet and feed supplier about the VFD. Take time to work through this checklist and prepare your farm to be VFD ready in 2017.

For more information about non-medicated milk replacers and calf nutrition supplements, visit www.savacaf.com .
 

babsbag

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Thank you @Nifty for the article and the reminder.

And to make it all even more fun, if you live in California over the counter antibiotics will no longer be available for any animals so make a relationship with your vet now or be ready to drive to NV or OR for meds. Always try to keep the basics on hand because running to TSC or the local feed store will no longer be an option.
 

Latestarter

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Thanks @Nifty It's easy to get side tracked and forget since the govt continues to write laws upon laws to make it nearly impossible for the average man to avoid breaking at least one if not many without even realizing it.
 

babsbag

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Fortunately for many the VFD won't matter as we don't feed antibiotic laced feeds, but for some it will.

But I have to tell you an interesting observation this year. I have a doe that freshened with gangrene mastitis and a single doeling. I treated the doe with oxcytet not really expecting her to live. I supplemented her doeling a few times but she really wasn't interested in the bottle and was doing ok on mom. I left them together as I felt it gave the doe a reason to go on fighting to live. And fight she did. Her milk production dropped for a few day and the doeling was always nursing, obviously a little hungry. But as the doe recovered so did her milk and that kid nursed like a champ. She is by far the biggest kid in the barn; bigger than some of my yearlings. And she never got cocci and I did not put her on cocci preventative.

Now supposedly her milk diet would have prevented the oxcytet for doing her any benefit but I can't help but wonder why she grew so quickly as is so healthy? I have had single kids before and their growth is usually not that different than multiples.

Was there any benefit to the antibiotic reside she received through her mothers milk? Hmmm Makes me wonder.
 

greybeard

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http://www.cattlenetwork.com/advice...here-are-practical-answers-your-vfd-questions

Probably the biggest impact to the small producer is going to be felt in the medicated milk replacer & creep feeds that are currently over-the-counter products. I saw some Purina cattle products yesterday at 2 different feed stores, and their bag labels already carry a note telling the buyer that come Jan 2017, that product will require a VFD--both for sale and use.
Interestingly enough, they both had pallets and pallets of the feeds out in the middle of the floor at significantly discounted prices. I suspect they are trying to get rid of stock before Jan 1 rolls around...

Some products will simply disappear, as their sales will plummet because so many people just buy them out of a 'feel good' attitude, not really knowing if they were needed or not--which (IMO) is what caused this problem to begin with, and since the user will need a vet's prescription next year, far fewer people will buy them.
Over the counter injectibles won't be affected, nor will pour-ons. ONLY antibiotics used with or mixed in feeds, water or minerals, but Antibiotics which are not considered medically important for humans, and therefore will not require a VFD, include monensin, lasalocid and bacitracin.

Thinking of stocking up on your favorite medicated feeds and using them after Jan1 2017 without a vet's directive? Don't, if you wish to remain compliant.


Q: If I have leftover products with old labels after the regulatory effective date of Jan. 1, 2017, can I continue using them without a VFD?

A. No. You must have a VFD in place to use all affected products after the new rules go into effect, says Hallberg. However, products with old labels do not have to be destroyed. They can be used under a new VFD.
Cattle drugs currently requiring a VFD

  • Tilmicosin
Cattle drugs which change from over-the-counter sales to use only by veterinary feed directive in 2017:

  • Neomycin
  • Tylosin
  • Virginiamycin
  • Chlortetracycline
  • Oxytetracycline
 

misfitmorgan

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Thats crazy, glad we dont feed anything with medicated feeds.

So long as i can order the injectables when needed i wont worry to much.
 

babsbag

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Over the counter injectibles won't be affected, nor will pour-ons.

Unless you live in California. No OTC antibiotics at all come Jan. I wonder if we will still be able to buy antibiotics to treat tropical fish diseases? We will be able to buy wormers.
 

babsbag

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Yeah, and they are so proud of their new law and how this makes CA so wonderful and we are just being so fabulous to take such a strong stand on helping to stop the antibiotic resistance. Such forward thinking. UGH!!! Fortunately I have a good relationship with a vet that "gets it" and I live 3 hours from OR.
 

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