Noble
Foundation
consultants have
always encouraged
producers to have
relationships with
their local veterinar-
ians. A veterinarian-
client-patient rela-
tionship (VCPR) is necessary so the
best decisions and practices can be
put in place to maintain a healthy
herd. Key elements of a VCPR include
that the veterinarian engage with the
client (i.e., the producer or caretaker)
to assume responsibility for mak-
ing clinical judgments about patient
(i.e., animal) health, have sufficient
knowledge of the animal by conduct-
ing examinations and/or visits to the
facility where the animal is managed,
and provide any necessary follow-up
evaluation or care. Also included in
this relationship is an agreement by
the client to follow the veterinarian’s
instructions.
Most producers are probably
aware of the need for a VCPR since
it is already required to purchase
certain medications. However, many
medications have been available over
the counter for use by producers as a
means of therapeutic treatment and
growth promotion. Much of this is
changing. On June 3, 2015, the Veteri-
nary Feed Directive (VFD) final rule
was issued. This includes Guidance
213, which was finalized in December
2013. Guidance 213 gives detailed
information regarding the definition
of “medically important” antibiotics,
a process for updating product labels
and the data required for companies
to obtain approval of any new thera-
peutic uses. The important date to
remember is
Jan. 1, 2017
. This is the
deadline by which drug sponsors
must withdraw approved production
uses, and veterinary oversight will be
required for drugs that are deemed
“medically important.” Remember,
the label is the law. Regarding a VFD,
not even a veterinarian is allowed to
prescribe extra-label use of an in-feed
antibiotic. An example of this is chlor-
tetracycline (CTC). In the past, CTC
has been labeled for increased rate
of weight gain and improved feed
efficiency, and it could be purchased
without a veterinarian’s consent. It
is widely used in mineral mixes. As
soon as the label is changed, with
the deadline date being Jan. 1, 2017,
CTC can no longer be used for growth
promotion; its in-feed use for thera-
peutic purposes, such as anaplas-
mosis, will have to be authorized by
a veterinarian through a VFD. Chlor-
tetracycline is just one example. Ask
your veterinarian about others that
may affect your operation.
It is important to note that
ionophores are not included as
a medically important antibiotic.
Ionophores are classified as a
polyether antibiotic, but they are not
used in human medicine. A veterinary
feed directive will not be necessary
to purchase ionophores unless they
are being used in combination with
another antibiotic that is deemed
medically important, such as CTC and
lasalocid (Bovatec).
A veterinarian-client-patient
relationship is more important now
than ever before. A veterinarian
should be and will have to be your
main source of information regard-
ing use of antibiotics. If you do not
currently have a VCPR with a local
veterinarian or are not sure if you do,
start the conversation. Get to know
your veterinarian.
- taken from Ag News and Views - Volum 33/Number 8/ August 2015 for a complete copy of the Newsletter go to http://www.noble.org/Global/ag/news-views/2015/august.pdf
