Extra-label drug use for dairy health

By Andi Anderson

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team is hosting a free webinar on December 19 from noon to 1 p.m., focusing on extra-label drug use in dairy cattle.

The session, led by postdoctoral associate Allison Vander Plaats, will explain recent changes in the FDA's stance on using aspirin in cattle and what these new regulations mean for veterinarians and dairy producers.

For many years, the Food and Drug Administration considered aspirin a “low regulatory concern” for use in cattle, allowing veterinarians to recommend it when no other treatment options were available.

However, the FDA recently issued a letter to veterinarians announcing a prohibition on using aspirin in dairy cattle and other food animals, signaling a stricter approach to extra-label drug use in food-producing animals.

Vander Plaats, who is pursuing a food animal specialty residency and graduate degree at Iowa State, brings extensive knowledge to the topic. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and earned her DVM from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she specialized in production animals.

With experience in dairy veterinary practice and teaching, her expertise spans antibiotic stewardship, veterinary education, and ruminant medicine.

This webinar offers valuable information for dairy producers, consultants, and industry representatives, emphasizing compliance with new drug-use rules and the role of veterinary guidance in managing dairy cattle health.

Participants can register for the event until one hour before the start at https://go.iastate.edu/ASPIRINWEBINAR.

Attending this webinar will provide insight into regulatory changes impacting dairy operations and offer practical advice on navigating these updates.

The Iowa State Dairy Team’s monthly webinars support industry knowledge on topics that directly affect dairy production and animal health.

Photo Credit: jacqueline-nix