VFD Application:Production System View

Pete Thomas – Iowa Select Farms

Overview

• Antibiotic decision making– In context of a valid VCPR

• Plans for VFD Implementation

• Prescription water medication

Antibiotic Goals• The intent of GFI 213 is to assure that there is veterinary

oversight in “medically important” antibiotic use. ISF is dedicated to that principle.

• Antibiotic decisions should be made using clinical and laboratory diagnostic information.

• Antibiotic use should be based on what is best for the health of the pig, safety of our food supply, and long-term preservation of these important tools.

• Use as little as possible, but as much as necessary.

Veterinary Oversight

• ISF veterinary team designated to oversight of specific farms, with back-up (cross-over).

• Each region has most pig flows represented, so it is important everyone is engaged with sow farm and W:F flow health trends.

Diagnostic Utilization

• Sick animals are routinely autopsied and samples submitted to state diagnostic laboratories.

• ISF utilizes several diagnostic labs:– Internal PCR lab– Iowa State University– University of Minnesota– South Dakota State University– Newport Labs

Diagnostic Data Analysis

Internal and External Research• Designated company research facilities designed to do

accurate feed trials.

• Assure that there are measurable health benefits of targeted antibiotic use in specific pig flows.

• Continuous improvement and assessment of antibiotic treatment/control/prevention regimens delivered via oral or injectable routes.

• Utilization of applicable outside industry research

Pig Flow – Medication Decisions• 39 sow farms – Number of flows changes.• Single source where possible.

– Most flows• Co-mingled flows

– Same gilt source– Similar health status

• Flows change on a regular basis – based on changes on health status and space balance.

• Feed medication programs do not change often.– Acute health challenges – Injectable and/or water meds

VFD Process

• Goals:

1. Efficient use of everyone’s time and resources

2. Integrate with current feed ordering program.

3. Electronic and automatic

Efficiency

• About 500 finishing/W:F/Nursery sites• 39 sow farms

Toll Mills – Geographical

• VFD process needs to integrate with all of our toll-milling partners.

VFD Efficiency

Estimation of 2,500 VFD per year for our system. At 0.125 hours each, this would equal 312 hours per year.

This would equate to 3 months of extra administrative work-load for our company veterinarians every year!

The ability to write a VFD electronically in an efficient manner allows the same information to be collected/reported more efficiently.

There are several ways to write VFD’s. This could be done very efficiently or could require a large increase in administrative work.

VFD Process• Feed budget is generated for a specific site, including any feed

medication planned for that flow/site. This generates a VFD request to the assigned veterinarian.

VFD Process

• VFD generation email is sent to the veterinarians email address.

VFD Process

• Email will have a link to log-in and use the access code to “approve” the VFD

VFD Process

• VFD Authorization after login and entering access code.

Generation of VFD

VFD Process

• When feed is ordered the VFD is pushed with the order to the mill as a PDF.– They can print– They have electronic access

• The VFD is generated based off a the unique combination of:– Ration, Lot #, Feed Mill, and medication.– If Feed mill changes, a new VFD is generated.

VFD Process

• Feedmill, Veterinarian, and Producer all have access to log-in and view past VFD’s, print copies, or store electronically.

Water medications – Veterinary oversight

• Prescriptions are written and on file for each site – where required.

• Additional oversight of both prescription and non-prescription products – through ordering on our tools website.

• Guarantee that the veterinarian is aware of all medication orders and have approved them.

Medication Oversight

• Approval process assures oversight of both prescription and non-prescription products.

• Assure that they are used when they are really needed.

Email generated with med order

Link to Medication Approval

• Mobile friendly

Water medication prescription/oversight

• We have seen a trend of reduced usage with certain products with increased oversight.

Questions