Major changes to how producers can purchase many medicated feeds are on the way under the new Veterinary Feed Directive rule, passed by the FDA. Three significant changes are coming: (1) many drug labels are currently being modified by limiting the drug’s use to therapeutic, rather than production uses; (2) all “medically important” antimicrobial drugs used in feed will no longer be “over the counter”; and (3) a veterinarian must complete a VFD form before a producer can purchase certain medicated feeds that fall under the definition.
I recently put together a fact sheet aimed at explaining the new rule and its impacts in plain language for livestock producers. To obtain a copy of the fact sheet, just click here.