4-H and FFA Members Need to Consider How VFD Might Change Practices

As a 4-H Mom, I've been reading about the upcoming Veterinary Feed Directive or VFD and have been thinking about what this might mean to the 4-Hers in our livestock club as many of them only have their one or two show animals on their place. What does this new rule mean for the 4-H and FFA community of livestock showmen?

OSU Extension Livestock and Rangeland field faculty member Dr. Sergio Arispe says for 4-Hers, FFA members and their families need to be thinking now to prepare for the January first change.

Arispe: "To come with a plan, if you know that vet might not come out for one pig but if there are a group of students or there is a 4-H club. To see who is using which veterinarian and maybe consider have this veterinarian come look at all of our facilities because we are all in the same area. Being willing to give and take as far as maybe you have a vet you liked five years ago, but your neighbor has another vet that has come out three times this year. Consider that other one and see if that veterinarian is willing to come out and get to know the rest of the pigs in the club — or the chickens or the cattle or dairy cows. So this is going to expand that but there is going to need to be some type of organization. That starts when one person receives information and to start disseminate it and come up with a game plan."

He also urges 4-H and FFA members to consider using low-stress handling methods.

Oregon State University Extension's VFD publication can be found at

Here is a link to the publication