Agricultural News
Last-Minute Advice from Dr. AJ Tarpoff as the Clock Ticks Down for the VFD Going Live Next Month
Fri, 09 Dec 2016 11:26:11 CST
As producers prepare for the Veterinary Feed Directive to go live in less than a month, Farm Director Ron Hays reached out to Dr. AJ Tarpoff, Kansas State University extension veterinarian, to get some last-minute clarification on some of his most frequently asked questions raised by producers.
"One of the first questions that typically get is, it's understanding, 'can I use one VFD authorization to shop around at multiple mills or distributors," Tarpoff said. "And, the answer is no."
He explains that one VFD order is written and it only goes to one distributor, generally whichever one you typically do business with. That's your preference. If you happen to find a better deal out there and wish to change where you do business, Tarpoff says you will have to close out the existing VFD order and have your veterinarian write another for the new distributor. In many ways, VFD orders act much like a prescription, says Tarpoff.
"The VFD, it's an authorization over a period of time," Tarpoff clarifies. "The authorizations can be written for upwards of six months, and it's not realistic for a producer to have to buy a six months' worth supply all at one time."
This allows producers to buy what they need, when they need it over a set duration. However, Tarpoff advises not to wait until you have a problem that requires medicated feed. He says you never know when you'll have an outbreak, so he says it's always a good idea to plan ahead and have your VFD in place so you won't be scrambling later down the road.
"If you have a VFD authorization is place and all the paperwork is done - you've already had that communication with your veterinarian and it's understood how and when these products will be used," Tarpoff said. "if you don't have that on file and an issue comes up, then you have to go through all the steps that you could have done proactively months before."
Listen to more of Dr. Tarpoff's advice on preparing for VFD with Farm Director Ron Hays, on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...