Starting January 1, the Food and Drug Administration’s Veterinary Feed Directive goes into effect. The rule requires any livestock producer using antibiotics for medical purposes to work with a veterinarian to administer those drugs. South Dakota State Vet Dr. Dustin Oedekoven says most of South Dakota’s producers are ready for the change.

He says most of the antibiotic companies are ready to go and the producers have had a lot of time to prepare for the directive.

Oedekoven says producers have to make sure they have the written permission of their local vet to use the drugs and have him administer those.

The VFD rule came about partially because of antibiotics becoming resistant when used in human cases.