Posts By: Midwest AgCenter

Hopefully by now you know what the title of this article means. VFD (Veterinary Feed Directive) is going to be effective, January 1st, 2017. A few drug categories have already been effected by an earlier ruling but coming into 2017 there is a much larger and more commonly utilized list of drug category’s effected. Some of them are, Neomycin, Lincomycin, Chlortetracycline, Penicillin and Tylsosin. (This is not the complete list)

So what does this mean to you? If you plan to purchase feed or feed products containing any of the drugs in these VFD Categories under VFD Ruling you will need to first get a VFD (Script) from your Veterinarian. Dealers, such as WS Ag Center, Fleet stores and the like will legally not be able to sell you any product without a valid VFD that contains all the necessary information as requested by law. In addition the scripts will be written with specific animal numbers and length of use restrictions for the specific drug prescribed by your veterinarian. VFD’s will need to be kept in your records for a minimum of two years.

If you haven’t already please begin the conversations with your veterinarian regarding the VFD changes and what it will mean to you. Please go to the following government websites for additional information, www.fda.gov/safefeed or AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov. You will also find a complete list of the drug categories there.

I know there is discussion in the field regarding “stocking up” of products that will fall under the VFD Ruling. I caution you to understand that if a Government Official shows up at your farm on January 2nd, 2017 you better be able to show them a valid VFD for the product(s) remaining on your property. Rest assured the government out of the gate will find and make examples of those who choose to ignore this new ruling. Please also understand this doesn’t necessarily just fall on commercial animal producers, some Show Feeds will be effected as well.

If you have additional questions, the team at WS Ag Center or myself will be more than happy to assist you. Remember preparation and awareness goes a long way to making this a smoother transition. Thank you for your continued support of both WS Ag Center and Kent Nutrition Group.

Carol Coulombe, Territory Sales Manager, Kent Nutrition Group

We’ve obviously seen our fair share of rain this late summer/early fall season resulting in good late season grass growth for our grazing livestock. This should extend the grazing season, which can’t help but improve the bottom line of our heifer raisers who graze, rotational dairy grazers, and our cow calf producers.

Regardless of the length of the grazing season, spring born calves in a cow calf operation will be weaned sometime in the near future. The success of this process lies heavily on what protocol you used as far as a vaccination program and how quickly these calves start on feed. You should, most definitely, work with your veterinarian to devise a vaccination program that fits your specific operation. When it comes to starting them on feed, the faster they start on it, the likelihood of treating sick calves is greatly reduced. If you have been creep feeding these calves, this process should be very easy because they have seen and consumed feed before so the only stress they will experience is the separation from momma. Those who haven’t been creep fed will experience more stress because instead of eating feed, they tend to do nothing but bawl and walk the fences because when the feed is distributed they tend to ignore it not knowing what it is.

That is why we at WS Ag Center have developed, perhaps, the most highly palatable starter feed for freshly weaned calves there is, currently, on the market. It’s a 14% crude protein, textured and blended with a high level of digestible fiber, to expand and help develop rumen function and thus start them out with good eating habits. Plus, the flavoring agents in this feed have a distinct aroma which draws calves to the feed bunk. It’s called WS Weanling feed. So to get all your freshly weaned calves off to a fast and healthy start, come and see us about WS Weanling feed.

Doug Fish, Livestock Consultant, WS Ag Center

Thank you to our Equine customers for attending our hands-on seminar on Thursday, September 22nd, hosted by Tribute Equine Nutrition! We had over 30 people here to participate in a Joint Yoga/Equine Massage demonstration by Tiffany Gilgenbach followed by a Body Condition Scoring demonstration given by Kristin Karls, Tribute Equine Nutrition Representative. It was fun having live horses in front of the group and being able to discuss actual attributes of the horses. 

We had a great turnout for our seminar in July! Dr. Chris Haase gave a presentation about senior horse care and Kent Nutrition Group Representative Carol Coulombe taught about the Sentinel line of extruded feeds for horses. 

WS Ag Center is excited to be offering Steers Tack brand in our store! We have sports and splint boots, training leads and sticks, trail riding reins and more! Come check out our growing inventory of tack items available directly from the warehouse at Steers Tack. Please let us know if there are any items you’d like to see us carry in the store! We will be bringing in buckets, blankets, fork heads and barn supplies this fall!

We have become a Pro Dealer for the Manna Pro company too! Manna Pro carries many popular brands of products – such as: Lexol, Corona, Likit, CutHeal, Theracyn, Sweet-PDZ, Sho-Line, Majesty’s Wafers, Renew Gold and more! Stay tuned for future sales and specials on many of these products!