Caring for Backyard Farm Animals in Today’s World
With the growing popularity of backyard farm animals in the 21st century, Landrum Veterinary Hospital would like to address the treatment concerns and legal limitations that veterinarians face when caring for these animals.
These are not your grandparents’ farm animals. While the species may be the same, the rules surrounding their care have changed dramatically. Today, far more federal and state regulations govern how medications—especially antibiotics—can be used in livestock and food-producing animals.
Understanding Antibiotic Stewardship and Resistance
We now live in a scientific era where antibiotic use can no longer be taken for granted. Many of the medications once routinely used in veterinary medicine are also critical to human health. As a result, antibiotic resistance has become a serious global issue. Some bacterial infections have evolved to become resistant to treatment, posing life-threatening risks to both animals and humans.
To protect public health, veterinarians must follow strict laws and guidance on how antibiotics and other medications are used in food-producing species.
Federal Oversight and the Role of FARAD
One of the most important regulatory bodies guiding veterinarians is the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD). This program defines food animals as “species or classes used to create a food or food by-product that does not require slaughter, such as milk, eggs, and honey.”
FARAD recognizes two main categories of species:
- Major species: Horses, cattle, swine, turkeys, chickens, dogs, and cats
- Minor species: Sheep, goats, catfish, game birds, honeybees, shellfish, and others
While FARAD exists to ensure food safety, it also limits the number of medications veterinarians are legally allowed to use in these species. For example, most pain medications and many antibiotics used in companion animals are not approved for use in food animals.
Importantly, FARAD makes no distinction between a pet chicken or goat and one raised for food production. Even if you never intend to sell your eggs, milk, or meat, veterinarians must still follow the same regulations. Using a prohibited medication could result in legal penalties for both the veterinarian and the practice.
What This Means for Backyard Farmers
At Landrum Veterinary Hospital, we understand how deeply you care for your backyard animals and view them as beloved pets. However, we are legally bound to treat them under food animal regulations. This means that some medications we commonly use for dogs or cats cannot be prescribed or dispensed for your chickens, goats, or other livestock.
When treatment is needed, we may be required to issue a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) — a type of prescription that must be filled at an approved feed supplier rather than through our hospital. While this process may feel unfamiliar, it’s an important safeguard to protect the broader food supply and public health.
How We Can Help
Although our ability to prescribe certain medications is limited, Landrum Veterinary Hospital remains committed to supporting backyard farmers through preventive and educational care. We can assist with:
- Biosecurity recommendations to reduce the spread of disease
- Fecal testing to monitor internal parasites
- Vaccinations where appropriate
- Nutritional and housing guidance to maintain herd and flock health
By focusing on prevention, we can help minimize illness and keep your animals healthy year-round.
Learn More About Biosecurity and Safe Practices
We encourage all backyard animal owners to learn more about biosecurity and responsible animal care. The following resources provide valuable information:
USDA Biosecurity for Birds
CDC Backyard Poultry Safety
FARAD — Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank