Consumer demand continues to grow for certified safe foods. The National Pork Board responded to these demands by developing an extension of the Pork Quality Assurance Plus certification called the Common Swine Industry Audit. Source: National Hog Farmer, January 2017. The CSIA, certified by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO) in October of … [Read more...]
Addicts using pets and vets to get their fix
Hydrocodone, Ketamine, Tramadol and Valium are opioids that some pet owners are trying to get for themselves by causing or not treating pet injuries or illnesses. Authorities are unsure how widespread the practice is. Veterinarians believe it to be a small problem. Source: Washington Post, January 23, 2017 (limited free views). John de Jong, former chairman of the board of … [Read more...]
VFD farm visits must pass the smell test
Tom Burkgren, DVM, AASV executive director, speaks out on the importance of the farm visit as part of the new VFD requirements. He calls for swine veterinarians to keep the integrity of the veterinary-client-patient-relationship valid and professional. “A farm visit by a veterinarian for the sole purpose of meeting a regulatory requirement may not pass the smell test,” he … [Read more...]
Get in line with VFD
January 1st came and brought a new set of rules and questions. This article reconfirms the regulatory details and offers some questions for producers should ask themselves before inspections occur. They include: Did you keep copies of VFD orders for at least two years? Did you feed the authorized number of animals on the VFD order? Did you feed VFD feed for … [Read more...]
Pig producers are VFD ready
In a survey conducted by the National Pork Board in November, 95 percent of pig farmers surveyed said that they were ready to be fully compliant by the time the rules took effect on Jan. 1, 2017. Source: National Hog Farmer, January 9, 2017. Jan Archer, NPB president and a pig farmer from Goldsboro, N.C. noted a key hurdle in complying with new FDA rules is ensuring that … [Read more...]
Dr. Scott Dee discusses antimicrobial resistance
A recent CDC report that listed the most worrisome threats associated with antibiotic resistance did not implicate livestock, veterinarian Scott Dee says. Veterinarians, producers and others in the food industry are nevertheless working to improve stewardship of antimicrobials. Source: Pork Network, January 9, 2017 via AVMA Animal Health SmartBrief. Research to better … [Read more...]
17 days left to become VFD compliant
Despite tremendous educational efforts, many producers and veterinarians remain unclear on the details about using medicated feeds for prevention, control and treatment of disease in their herds effective January 1, 2017. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, December 5, 2016. FDA officials have indicated their enforcement activities will focus on education during the initial months … [Read more...]
Opinion – Antibiotics: man vs. animal
Staying neutral about the antibiotic resistance issue is difficult for those of us who have observed how slow adoption hurts the acceptance of proven animal health protocols. According to Rick Bergman, executive director for the Center for Consumer Freedom, physicians now frequently reach for “big gun or last resort” antibiotics, which likely contributes to antibiotic … [Read more...]
VFD, the law every DVM needs to know
The title,“VFD: The law every food doc needs to know,” is true. But, many suburban veterinarians will be affected by this law thanks to the many acreages and the increasing popularity of goats. Even beekeepers are subject to VFD regulations. Source: DVM 360, November 2016, page 18. The new regulations go into effect on January 1, 2017. INSIGHTS: The scramble to be … [Read more...]
BQA injection guidelines reviewed
As the cattle industry scurries to get the paper trails in place for the upcoming VFD requirements, it is a good time to review the importance of proper injection site practices for vaccines, vitamins, minerals, injectable antibiotics and NSAIDs. This article will make good content for blogs, newsletters and websites. Source: Beef, November 2016. Be systematic about how you … [Read more...]
VFD point-of-sale tool available
The veterinary feed directive (VFD) takes effect January 1, 2017. Owners of smaller livestock operations, or those who keep food animals as pets, may not have established relationships with veterinarians. Farm Foundation, NFP and the Animal Health Institute have partnered to develop a point-of-sale tool that retailers can use to help customers understand the VFD. It is … [Read more...]
Know which products need a VFD before time runs out
The veterinary feed directive (VFD) takes effect January 1, 2017. Here’s a handy list of products affected by the new rule compiled by the National Pork Board and the University of Wisconsin. Source: AGDAILY, November 10, 2016. A VFD can only be issued from a licensed veterinarian, based on a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship, before a producer may use feeds … [Read more...]
Knowledge gap looms on FDA antibiotic rules
With big changes to rules governing antibiotic use in animal agriculture pending at the end of this year, producer opinions range from cautious support to skeptical opposition. Some are taking a wait-and-see approach. John Maday, Bovine Veterinarian editor, shared producer survey feedback that indicates the education process is far from finished. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, … [Read more...]
How the VFD applies to anaplasmosis
Anasplasmois is caused by Anaplasmo marginale, a blood parasite. The parasite is transferred between animals by blood contamination, often caused by blood-sucking insects. It is common in the South and in some parts of the country, clinical anaplasmosis can occur year-round. The new Veterinary Feed Directive allows for treatment. Source: Progressive Cattleman, November, … [Read more...]
Youth swine exhibitors VFD guide available
The Pork Checkoff has released “Youth Swine Exhibitors’ Guide to New Antibiotic Rules” and it is available at no charge. Source: The Pork Checkoff. As of January 1, 2017, youth swine exhibitors, parents and project advisors will face major changes regarding access to feed and water medications for show pigs. INSIGHTS: In addition to this guide, there are more resources in … [Read more...]
6 steps to take before VFD becomes effective
Much has been written about VFD including these five posts on Animal Health Digest: More on VFD FDA pilot program begins on-farm VFD inspections VFD tools for clients available for free Apiary owners must bee ready for VFD Common VFD form format part of FDA final guidelines This great infographic reminds producers of the steps that need to be taken pretty … [Read more...]
AAHA transitioning to accredited-only hospital membership model
AAHA is bolstering its strategy to clarify and support the accredited AAHA practices with membership changes. Over the next two years, it will transition to an accredited-only hospital membership model. The transition will be completed by June 30, 2018. Non-accredited practices have until July 1, 2017 to enter into an agreement to become AAHA accredited. Any non-accredited … [Read more...]
NCBA offers free webinar on changing antibiotic regulations October 27
Here’s a resource to share with your cattle customers. Consider having a small group of key customers join you at a clinic, restaurant, community center or such to view the webinar and then discuss implementation of the VFD regulations. It takes place Thursday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m. Central. Source: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, October 6, 2016. Join the webinar … [Read more...]
Common VFD form format part of FDA final guidelines
FDA has issued final guidelines for veterinary feed directive (VFD) forms veterinarians will issue when authorizing the use of a medicated feed additive containing an antibiotic deemed medically important. The document provides examples that illustrate how a common VFD format might appear and how some of the information on the VFD may be pre-populated by an animal health … [Read more...]
Prepare to be powder-free
It is inevitable that powdered gloves will join the dinosaurs of animal health SKUs, based on a pending FDA ruling. Whether it takes affect this year or is delayed into 2017, it is time to try out alternatives, writes Laura Thill. To see the FDA’s proposed ban, visit https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FDA-2015-N-5017-0001. Source: Vet Advantage, August 2016, page … [Read more...]
New resource helps people understand expanded feed directive
Human and animal health experts agree that antibiotic resistance is a public health concern. This is why some agriculture groups, including the Animal Health Institute, National Pork Producers Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Animal Agriculture Alliance launched a new educational website, togetherABX. It offers information about how the Food and Drug … [Read more...]
Selfies and other images not proof of VCPR
Videos or photos cannot be used as a way to document the VCPR needed to obtain a veterinary feed directive, according to William T. Flynn, DVM, MS, deputy director for science policy, FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. Source: Poultry Health Today, August 31, 2016. One key element of the federal VCPR definition requires veterinarians to have sufficient knowledge of the … [Read more...]
Industry, not activists should establish cage-free definition
Chad Gregory, CEO of the United Egg Producers (UEP), told a group of producers and allied industry representatives that farmers should stop reacting toward cage-free demand. Rather, they should go on the offensive and define what a cage-free system should be. UEP estimates that 190.4 million hens, or about 66 percent of the current national flock, will be required to full … [Read more...]
Facts on CBD treats for dogs
Sources vary on the exact number, but cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of among 60 to over 100 distinct chemical compounds — called cannabinoids as a group — that can be derived from the plant we know as marijuana. This author reviews what CBD is, clarify what it is not, how it functions and the kinds of medical conditions that it might be useful in treating. The Food and Drug … [Read more...]
Apiary owners must bee ready for VFD
New Veterinary Feed Directive regulations are will apply to beekeepers’ apiaries. Yes, bees are considered livestock by the federal government. European foulbrood is a bacterial disease that affects honeybee larvae before the capped state and is characterized by dead and dying larvae in the hive. It is treated with oxytetracycline sold under the trade name Terramycin and is … [Read more...]
VFD tools for clients available for free
Good record-keeping is critical to making the new Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) work well. As veterinarians help clients prepare to implement VFD by January 1, 2017, two new tools can help. Source: Beef, August 4, 2016. (registration required for download) Bill Halfman and Sandy Stuttgen have developed a VFD Order Records Summary Sheet, one a PDF-based download for paper … [Read more...]
Eggs are a victory for the animal welfare movement
In recent years, public attention to eggs and the chickens that make them has grown beyond logical expectations. In fact, nearly 200 companies that include every major grocery and fast food chain have pledged to use only cage-free eggs by 2025. This doesn’t mean life for hens is getting better. In fact, the opposite may be true. Source: Washington Post, August 6, 2016. The … [Read more...]
FDA pilot program begins on-farm VFD inspections
A pilot program designed to help educate FDA auditors as they prepare for VFD implementation has been launched. Auditors are focusing on swine operations first since the pork industry has had a VFD requirement for more than a decade for tilmicosin, florfenicol and avilamycin. The main items producers should know how to answer prior to an inspector visiting their farm are shown … [Read more...]
5 noteworthy discussions from the World Pork Expo
Cheryl Day provides an overview of topics important to the swine industry. This information is a good answer to, “What did you learn at the WPX?” It provides insight into challenges swine producers face. Source: National Hog Farmer, July 2016, page 30. Day summarizes: Pork Quality Assurance Plus program 3.0 Pork, the Other White Meat lawsuit pending Waters of the … [Read more...]
New AVMA guidelines reflect ongoing animal welfare commitment
The AVMA Guidelines for the Humane Slaughter of Animals (also available in ebook format) provide guidance for veterinarians about how to prevent pain and distress in animals that have been designated for slaughter. The panel members who developed the guidelines offer expertise that is supplemented by input from additional experts and comments provided during a designated … [Read more...]