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Tag: VFD

Check out KSUantibiotics.org for antibiotic information

Posted on by Angie Denton

by Mike Tokach, University Regents Distinguished Professor

The website KSUantibiotics.org was created as a launching point to find information about antibiotics. There is a major section on antibiotic resistance, including new K-State fact sheets about how antibiotic resistance occurs and why livestock producers should care about antibiotic resistance. There are also web links to sites that provide an overview of antibiotic resistance, mechanisms, the current knowledge about resistance in livestock production, the USDA and FDA action plans concerning resistance, and news feeds where you can find the latest information on the topic. Each of the subpages contains the major agency (ex. WHO, FAO, CDC), producer group (National Pork Board), and Journal publications on the topics. Continue reading “Check out KSUantibiotics.org for antibiotic information” →

The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD): What producers need to know about antimicrobial use in feed

Posted on by Angie Denton

 

by A.J. Tarpoff, DVM, MS, Beef Extension Veterinarian

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The use of antibiotics in feed for food producing animals has come under scrutiny over the past few years. The growing issues with bacteria developing resistance to medically important antibiotics in human medicine have been a major driver of these changes. The FDA has put the use of medically important antibiotics under the guidance of veterinarians. The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) is the way in which veterinarians will work with producers to ensure the judicious use of these antibiotics with FDA oversight. Many of the antimicrobial medications affected are currently sold over the counter, but will soon be under VFD status.

As of January 1, 2017, the new VFD rules will be in full effect. Medically important antibiotics will no longer be labelled or be used for growth promotion practices. Many currently over the counter antibiotics will be changed to VFD status. Use of these antimicrobials by producers must be authorized by their veterinarian in the form of a VFD.

Continue reading “The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD): What producers need to know about antimicrobial use in feed” →

Dealing with anaplasmosis in cows

Posted on by Angie Denton

by David Rethorst, DVM, Veterinary Diagnostic Lab

Historically, anaplasmosis in Kansas has been diagnosed in the counties east of and including the I-35 corridor.  The 2013 Disease Trend Map from the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (KSVDL) shows that anaplasmosis was diagnosed in 37 of the 51 counties in this area and only 8 of the 54 counties west of the I-35 corridor.

 

In 2015, the KSVDL map revealed that cattle infected with anaplasmosis were diagnosed in 45 of the 51 eastern counties and 24 of 54 counties west of the I-35 corridor.  Three of the fifteen counties west of the I-35 corridor, yet east of and including the 281 corridor, had positive cases of anaplasmosis in 2013.

 

Yet in 2015, cattle infected with anaplasmosis were diagnosed in 13 of the 15 counties.  Are there more cases of anaplasmosis creeping west in Kansas or are our improved diagnostic tools and our awareness of the disease helping us do a better job of finding this problem in our cows?  Or is it a little bit of both?  With cows being routinely hauled into and out of disease endemic areas on an annual basis for summer grazing and reports of strains of Anaplasma marginale that are resistant to chlortetracycline, one can see why the prevalence is increasing in Kansas.

 

Continue reading “Dealing with anaplasmosis in cows” →