Adding Chlortetracycline to mineral on farm is illegal

by SuperUser Account

As fly/vector season starts into full swing, producer interest in using Chlortetracycline (CTC) to prevent and control Anaplasmosis is increasing. Additionally, Veterinarians are writing the VFDs required to access the CTC products to use in this effort.

One particular approach to the situation has come up several times in the last few days. That approach has been producers wanting to purchase CTC as the 10 gram or 50 gram product, take it home, and add it/blend it into mineral (unmedicated or already CTC medicated) that they already have at home. That is considered illegal by FDA and any VFD written in support of this approach is also illegal.

The push back to this "illegal" designation has been that since it would be legal to write a VFD for an on farm feed mix with CTC to control Anaplasmosis, why isn't it legal for minerals? The answer boils down to the distinction between continuous, "free choice" feeding of minerals versus the daily hand feeding of mixed feed products.

The use of CTC in a commercially manufactured product that is generally put out for "free choice" consumption can significantly alter labeled consumption expectations through altered palatability. A hand fed feed or feed supplement would more likely not be affected by that addition of CTC.

I know, you can argue that either way. And the "free choice" versus "daily feed to achieve" labeling of currently available CTC minerals is still not officially resolved, But the bottom line is that inspection of the VFD process and utilization of VFD products will consider it illegal to take the straight medication home and add it to a mineral product on the farm.

I continue to encourage, and continue to receive, calls from dealers, customers, and Veterinarians regarding VFD issues and situations. Keep the questions coming and we will all keep working through the various scenarios and questions that arise.

- Dr. Tony Martin, MFA Staff Veterinarian

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