Administered by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the VFD comes into full effect in January 2017 to revamp the use of antibiotics or drug-type antimicrobials in animal feed or water.

The VFD promotes the "judicious use" of antibiotics in food-producing animals, which means that many medicated products used in federally licensed feed mills now come under veterinary supervision.

VFDs require a veterinarian-client-patient relationship and can only be used "when necessary for assuring animal health", not to promote growth or feed efficiency.

"The VFD creates a new regulatory environment and generates questions," said Jeff Cannon, Diamond V President and CEO, "Especially for the animal producer and veterinarian.

"Under the VFD, antibiotics in feed and water are going to remain a necessary therapeutic tool in animal production for the foreseeable future."

Extensive research shows that Diamond V's natural nutritional health products, including Original XPC™, support animal digestive health and immune function.

A growing body of research shows that Diamond V products also remain effective in the presence of VFD-regulated medicated products and other antimicrobials. In many cases, they can enhance the efficacy of antibiotics.

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