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Pork producers preparing for VFD changes

Pork producers are in Washington DC this week talking to lawmakers about a significant change to the industry.

National Pork Producers Council president John Weber, a hog farmer from Dysart, Iowa, says the new Veterinary Feed Directive is on the minds of producers accompanying him to the nation’s capital for NPPC’s spring legislative conference.

“We have to have these two new guidance (regulations) implemented at the farm level by the end of 2016.  It will be a significant change for many producers in the ways they handle antibiotics and treat pigs.”

He tells Brownfield developing a good veterinary-client relationship will be critical.

“Because when pigs get sick, and (the producers) need medicine to treat these pigs, (the producers) are going to be required to have a Veterinary Feed Directive to buy the antibiotics; basically a prescription-based approach.”

Weber says enhanced record-keeping on the use of antibiotics is another requirement of the Veterinary Feed Directive that producers are preparing for.