A National Agricultural Program for Minor use Animal Drugs

The activity of a National Research Support Project (NRSP) focuses on the development of enabling technologies, supportactivities (e.g., collect, assemble, store, and distribute materials, resources and information), or the sharing of facilities neededto accomplish high priority research, but which is not of itself primarily research. The overall objectives of NRSP-7 the USDAMinor Use Animal Drug Program are to provide for human food safety and animal health through the judicious use of antibioticsand therapeutics in food and fiber producing animals. To accomplish these goals, the Program has developed the followingmissions: 1. Identify animal drug needs for minor species and minor uses in major species, 2. Generate and disseminate datafor safe and effective therapeutic applications, 3. Facilitate FDA/CVM approvals for drugs identified as a priority for a minorspecies or minor use, and 4. Provide alternatives to antibiotic use in food animals through the identification and FDA/CVMapproval of naturally occurring biotherapeutics and feed additives. Minor uses include minor species (all species except dogs,cats, horses, cattle, swine, chickens, and turkeys), while minor uses in major species are those that occur infrequently or inlimited geographical locations. The primary emphasis of the Program is on food-and/or fiber- (hair, wool, fur, feathers or hide)producing minor species with a secondary interest in non-food animals such as bees and tropical fish.