Beef producers don’t need to stress over VFD

Weaning calves has always been a challenging time for producers. During this period, a calf’s immune system is not yet fully developed, which can lead to a variety of challenges, including increased costs of gain, greater chances for morbidity and higher risks for scours. Any of these individually or in combination can result in decreased profitability.

Traditionally, producers have had limited options for ensuring maximum growth and health for their calves. Some strategies include supplementing calf diets with concentrates or pushing for more intensive diet rations, while others include introducing antibiotics for growth promotion.

So, what will happen when the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) hits?

What is VFD and what changes will come with it?

VFD is the mechanism the FDA will use to apply veterinary oversight to a broad range of products used in animal feed, such as antibiotics. In December of 2016, VFD will be implemented to promote the judicious use of antibiotics and to protect public health by limiting the development of antibiotic resistance. In short, the upcoming directive will restrict the use of antibiotics for growth promotion and feed efficiency. Once the changes are in full effect, it will be illegal to use medically important antibiotics without a veterinary prescription and antibiotics will only be available for use to prevent, control or treat a specifically identified disease.

With these regulations in place, producers will be searching for new, viable alternatives to keep their operations profitable.

New research supports antibiotic-free program

New research from the University of Florida has been released supporting the Alltech Antibiotic-Free program. During a 52-day weaning period, Alltech’s Actigen^® was fed to calves. The focus of the demonstration was to evaluate the effects of these technologies on animal health and performance.

The results of the study demonstrated Actigen, a unique technology from Alltech, to be a cost-effective means of maintaining gut health and integrity to support performance. For producers focused on growth and feed efficiency, Actigen in weaning calves showed profitable returns on investment and overall decreases in cost of gain.

Looking to the future, Actigen and the Alltech Antibiotic-Free program will continue to address key issues for profitability in weaning calves, including developing a healthy gut and stable rumen environment. Particularly during weaning, healthy calves will eat and produce more efficiently, ensuring they can perform at their maximum potential.

The Alltech Antibiotic-Free program, including technologies like Actigen, supports producers looking for solutions to address feed efficiency and to help promote a healthy and profitable future for their operation. Alltech technologies bring together more than 35 years of research and practical application with state-of-the-art support tools and technical expertise. This gives producers a holistic approach to navigate the challenges of antibiotic-free production, and in particular, the upcoming VFD initiative.

For more information, contact your Alltech representative or visit www.alltech.com/beef.

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