Modern animal agriculture relies heavily on the use of therapeutic drugs, pesticides and other agents that improve overall animal health and promote safe, efficient and humane production practices. Through the assimilation of a comprehensive drug database and the use of state-of-the-art pharmacokinetic modeling, FARAD scientists determine appropriate withdrawal periods for a wide array of chemical entities and provide this information to veterinarians, extension specialists and livestock producers through a toll-free call center as well as a publicly-accessible web site (FARMWeb). In addition, FARAD provides rapid response assistance regarding extra-label use of drugs in animal agriculture, and during food contamination emergencies which might arise from accidental exposure to environmental toxins, particularly pesticides, or intentional efforts to contaminate the food supply. Finally, FARAD provides assistance in trade matters related to foreign drug approvals and trains future veterinarians in the principles of residue avoidance.
FARAD: Reducing Chemical Residues in Animal Products [pdf] - Scientia
Guide to FARAD resources [pdf] - FARAD Digest
The impact of FARAD expertise on veterinary education and practice [pdf]
FARAD is a USDA-funded university-based consortium that is overseen and operated by faculty and staff within Kansas State University Olathe, the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California-Davis, and the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida, North Carolina State University, and Virginia-Maryland.