Agricultural News
State Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator Bob LeValley Offers Producers a Refresher of the VFD Mandate
Tue, 09 Jul 2019 10:42:12 CDT
Bob LeValley, Oklahoma Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator, offered a review of the Veterinary Feed Directive in this week's edition of the "Cow Calf Corner" published electronically electronically by the OSU Agricultural Economics Department.
"As the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) has been in effect for something over two years, now might be a good time to review the federal act that has affected cattle producers utilizing medicated feeds that contained medically important antibiotics. Beef cattle producers in Oklahoma often use a medicated mineral for controlling Anaplasmosis that falls in the oversight of the Veterinary Feed Directive. The Veterinary Feed Directive requires a VFD from a licensed veterinarian for medically important antibiotics in or on feed. This necessitates a Veterinary-Client -Patient-Relationship be established in advance to obtain the medicated feed for treatment. The VFD act eliminated the use of medically important antibiotics for growth promotion and feed efficiency purposes. Authorized uses remain for the prevention, treatment and or control of disease. The VFD does not apply to medicated feeds that do not contain medically important antibiotics. Examples of medicated feeds that are not affected by the VFD would be those feeds containing an ionophore or products for controlling bloat, or parasites.
"When using a VFD feed, the producer is required to maintain a copy of the signed VFD from the veterinarian for two years. Cattle owners do not have flexibility in how the medicated VFD feed is used; it can only be used as labeled and prescribed in the VFD. The VFD should also specify an 'Expiration Date.' This is the last day the VFD feed can be fed, not the date the drug becomes ineffective. If a producer cannot complete the therapy before the expiration date, the veterinarian should be contacted to obtain a new VFD.
"Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) guidelines require good recordkeeping for animal health products as well as feeds. This helps assess the effectiveness of treatment programs while avoiding any potential residue issues. Producers can have a positive impact on the quality and consistency of beef products by implementing BQA guidelines. The goal of the BQA program is to assure the consumer that all cattle shipped from a beef operation are healthy, wholesome and safe, and their management has met all government and industry standards.
"Beef producers can learn more about the BQA program and become BQA certified by going to the Beef Quality Assurance website at www.BQA.org."
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