Beginning January 1, 2017, livestock owners will need a veterinary feed directive, or VFD, to buy some medicated feeds for their animals. A VFD is similar to a prescription. Livestock owners will get VFDs from veterinarians; and there must be a valid veterinary-client patient relationship, or VCPR, to do so. This is a ruling from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The medications that will require VFDs are antibiotics that are also important for human health. A complete list is available on the FDA website. This new regulation does not affect injectable over the counter drugs, such as penicillin.

If you have questions, talk to your veterinarian or call us at 402-471-2351.