Lesson 2

Good Production Practice #2

Use a veterinarian/client/patient relationship (VCPR) as the basis for

medication decision-making.

2Good Production Practice 2

Introduction

• This lesson will help you to:– Identify the requirements of a VCPR– Understand the Food and Drug

Administration’s (FDA) requirement prohibiting extra-label use of drugs in medicated feeds

– Explain and understand over-the-counter, prescription, extra-label use and veterinary feed directive drugs

3Good Production Practice 2

VCPR

• What is needed for a VCPR?– The veterinarian must:

Have assumed the responsibility for making medical judgments regarding the health of the animal(s) and the need for medical treatment

Have working knowledge of the animal and/or operation

Be readily available for follow-up and consultation

– The owner/caretaker of the animal agrees to follow instructions of the veterinarian

4Good Production Practice 2

VCPR

• Benefits of a VCPR– Your veterinarian will be able to:

Readily follow-up Initiate a preliminary diagnosis

much faster Assist you with withdrawal times

and recordkeeping Provide “extra-label” drug use

when appropriate

5Good Production Practice 2

VCPR

• Involve your veterinarian

– Regular herd checks

– Timely and accurate diagnosis

6Good Production Practice 2

Medication Use

• Label use– Using an animal health

product exactly as it is stated on the label

7Good Production Practice 2

Medication Use

• Extra-Label– When a veterinarian

changes the medication dosage or any other instruction on the medication label

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Medication Use

• Extra-Label– Your veterinarian may change:

1. Dosage

2. Frequency of administration

3. Route of administration

4. Duration of treatment

5. Indication or condition treated

6. Species or life stage treated

–No one, not even a veterinarian, can prescribe the extra-label use of a medicated feed

9Good Production Practice 2

Medication UseExtra-label Use or Label-Use?

The label says to give 5 cc of the drug, your veterinarian says give 10 cc.

Your veterinarian suggests using a drug approved for cattle but not for swine on

your pig.

The label says treat your pig twice a day and you treat it at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Extra-labelUse

Extra-labelUse

Label Use

10Good Production Practice 2

Medication Use

• Drug Compounding – – Mixing of two or more drugs to

make a different medication– Compounding can only be done by

your veterinarian and only when you have a VCPR

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Medication Use

• Medicated feed– Feed containing an animal health product– Must be fed according to the label

• Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD)– Category of antimicrobial drugs delivered

in feed– You cannot buy, store or use VFD

products unless you: Have a valid feed mill license Are a distributor of VFD feeds, or Have a valid VFD issued by your

veterinarian

12Good Production Practice 2

Medication Use

• Medicated Feed Tag– Purpose of the medication– Directions for use– Names and amounts of all active

drug ingredients – Withdrawal period– Warning against misuse

13Good Production Practice 2

Medication Use

• Do not give additional drugs to animals while on medicated feed without veterinarian approval

• Avoid contamination of medicated and non-medicated products

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Classes of Medication

• Over-the-counter (OTC) – Can be purchased by you from:

veterinary clinics feed or farm supply stores animal health salespeople

• Prescription (Rx) – Only available on order of a

veterinarian

15Good Production Practice 2

Medication Label

• Use• Dosage• Administration• Withdrawal time• Storage and or handling

16Good Production Practice 2

Residue Testing

• When you have a question about withdrawal time, residue testing is necessary!

• Benefits– You keep your good reputation– Testing is lower cost than

the cost of giving the pork industry a bad reputation

– Helps satisfy export market requirements

17Good Production Practice 2

Take-Home Message

• Establish a VCPR with a veterinarian

• Always read and follow medication labels unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian

• Always read feed tags and follow directions accordingly

18Good Production Practice 2

Summary

• Maintain a VCPR– Medical care– Diagnosis

• Medication use– Label use– Extra-label

19Good Production Practice 2

Youth Pork Quality Assurance Plus