Texas Ag Commissioner Wants Feed-Based Ivermectin To Fight NWS

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is urging the Food and Drug Administration to authorize ivermectin in medicated livestock feed as the New World Screwworm continues spreading across Texas.

Miller said while the FDA recently approved injectable ivermectin for emergency use, feed-based treatment would allow producers to protect entire herds more efficiently and provide a practical way to help protect free-ranging deer and other wildlife.

"Injectable ivermectin was an important first step, but it's not enough," Miller said. "Feed-based ivermectin would allow producers to protect entire herds quickly, efficiently, and with far less stress on both livestock and producers. Just as importantly, it gives us a practical way to extend protection to deer and other wildlife. You can't expect producers to round up and inject thousands of free-range cattle every few weeks while this outbreak continues to expand."

The request asks the FDA to issue an emergency authorization, so feed manufacturers can begin producing medicated feed immediately.

The infrastructure is already in place," Miller said. "Our feed manufacturers are ready. Our producers are ready. The only thing standing in the way is federal approval."

Miller went on to say an "all-of-the-above" approach—including sterile flies, surveillance, inspections, injectable treatments, and feed-based ivermectin—is needed to stop the parasite before it causes even greater losses for livestock producers and threatens the nation's food supply.

Click Here to read Miller's letter to the FDA.