- Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is requesting an FDA Emergency Use Authorization for ivermectin in medicated livestock feed and mineral supplements.
- The request was submitted on behalf of the Texas Grain and Feed Association as New World screwworm continues to spread in Texas.
- Officials say feed-based ivermectin would provide a more practical option for protecting large cattle herds and free-ranging wildlife than injectable treatments alone.
- The FDA recently authorized emergency use of injectable ivermectin, but Texas officials are calling for additional treatment options.
- The Texas Grain and Feed Association says it is prepared to manufacture and distribute medicated feed immediately if federal approval is granted.
- Miller continues to advocate for a multi-pronged response that includes sterile fly production, surveillance, inspections and additional emergency treatment authorizations.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is calling on federal regulators to expand the tools available to combat the growing threat posed by New World screwworm, urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to authorize the emergency use of ivermectin in medicated livestock feed.
State seeks broader protection against expanding outbreak
According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, feed-based ivermectin would enable producers to treat entire herds more efficiently than injectable products while also providing a practical method of delivering protection to free-ranging deer and other warm-blooded wildlife that cannot be routinely handled.
The FDA recently issued an emergency authorization for injectable ivermectin to assist with New World screwworm control. However, Texas officials argue that relying solely on injectable products presents logistical challenges for producers managing large, extensively grazed herds.
State officials are also asking the FDA to establish dosing and withdrawal guidelines and coordinate an expedited review with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Feed manufacturers say production could begin immediately
The Texas Grain and Feed Association has indicated it is prepared to manufacture and distribute medicated feed as soon as federal authorization is granted. Miller reiterated his support for an all-of-the-above response combining pharmaceutical tools with sterile fly releases, enhanced surveillance, inspections and other suppression strategies.
Information sourced from the Texas Department of Agriculture’s news release.
