ISSUES POLICY


Veterinary Feed Directive Raises Concerns for Cattle Raisers


By Ty Keeling, Animal Health Committee vice chair I


N 1996, THE ANIMAL DRUG AVAILABILITY ACT (ADAA) WAS signed into law to provide fl exibility for the way the


U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates animal drugs and medicated feeds. The law was enacted to increase the number of approved animal drugs on the market, and it created a new category of drugs used in animal feed referred to as veterinary feed directive drugs (VFD drugs). Under the 1996 ADAA, VFD drugs did not require a


prescription from a licensed veterinarian for use. This changed on Oct. 1, 2015, when the FDA implemented a rule that expands and further regulates the use of what they refer to as “medically important” feed grade antibiotics. This rule takes effect immediately for Avilamycin,


Florfenicol and Tilmicosin. Only Tilmicosin is used as a feed-grade drug in cattle. By Jan. 1, 2017, the list of VFD drugs will have expanded to include all medi- cally important antibiotics used in feed and water for disease prevention, control and treatment. The volunteer leaders of Texas and Southwestern


Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) believe attempting this is an example of the federal government expanding their authority and to regulate ranchers out of business. They are accomplishing this by requiring ranchers to receive a VFD form, similar to a prescription, from a licensed veterinarian before they can use antimicrobial drugs in feed or water. A veterinarian must fi ll out the VFD form specify- ing the ranch, group of animals to be treated, drug to


96 The Cattleman November 2015


be used, feeding rate and the duration of the treatment for the cattle. Ranchers use medications to treat sick cattle and maintain a healthy herd. This regulation only adds costs and delays to herd management. Detailed forms and records must be retained for a


minimum of 2 years by the veterinarian, rancher and feed mill or distributor. This amount of paperwork is unnecessary and arduous just to receive a medication ranchers have appropriately used for years. The regulation requires veterinarians to follow


state defi ned veterinarian-client-patient relationships (VCPR). In states where the FDA determines no ap- plicable or appropriate state VCPR requirements exist, veterinarians are required to issue VFDs in compliance with federally defi ned VCPR requirements. Texas and Oklahoma already have state VCPR requirements in place; however, the FDA is overlooking the fact that most ranchers already have good working relationships with their local veterinarians. The VFD rule is part of FDA’s strategy to promote


the judicious use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals. The Administration believes antibiotics are causing resistance in humans who consume beef products, but they have continuously failed to back this claim with proper peer-reviewed sound science. Contact your veterinarian about how this rule will


affect your operation. TSCRA will continue working to ensure cattle raisers retain their access and ability to use important animal drugs.


thecattlemanmagazine.com


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