The USDA mandated veterinary feed directive (VFD) goes into effect January 1, 2017 and will require cattle producers to work with their veterinarian before administering antibiotics via feed. Newcastle veterinarian Dr. L D Barker says a VFD is just a small part of the veterinary-client-patient relationship, which is essential to the overall health and productivity of a herd.
Barker says a strong veterinary-client-patient relationship allows a veterinarian to know the ins and outs of an operation in order to better prevent and treat diseases like bovine respiratory disease - a major concern for a lot of producers. BRD can be prevented with vaccine protocols, but Barker says if an animal is trace mineral deficient or has a parasite load, the vaccine won’t be effective. Having that veterinary-client-patient relationship in place gives veterinarians the information they need about the kind, origin and management of cattle on an operation.
For producers looking to introduce high-risk cattle to their herd, Barker says it is especially important to develop a relationship with a veterinarian and work closely with an animal nutritionist to address deficiencies. He also recommends updating facilities to meet Beef Quality Assurance standards, as mishandling cattle can cause unnecessary stress that leads to compromised health.
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