June 21, 2016
Beef Cattle Institute Provides Online Resource for Upcoming Veterinary Feed Directive Changes
Striving to provide the most up-to-date information on upcoming changes in regulations related to the Veterinary Feed Directive, the Beef Cattle Institute (BCI) at Kansas State University is offering a new online resource – for free.
The BCI partnered with animal health experts Mike Apley of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Brian Lubbers of the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, to create an online informational module that answers frequently asked questions regarding the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Changes to the regulations as a result of the directive are scheduled to take place January 1, 2017.
According to Lubbers, K-State has been heavily involved with face-to-face meetings regarding the VFD, but the online modules will give producers and veterinarians an opportunity to gain foundational knowledge on their own time.
“The biggest thing for producers and veterinarians is really the planning,” he said. “We don’t want people to get to January 1 and be surprised by what they can and cannot do. I encourage producers to start the discussion with their veterinarians on what is impacted, how it may change, as well as the process.”
The free informational modules for beef producers and veterinarians can be found on the BCI website: http://www.beefcattleinstitute.org/vfd-mod/.