diff --git a/rest_framework/compat.py b/rest_framework/compat.py
index 2d77df490..1095c04df 100644
--- a/rest_framework/compat.py
+++ b/rest_framework/compat.py
@@ -115,12 +115,6 @@ def _resolve_model(obj):
     raise ValueError("{0} is not a Django model".format(obj))
 
 
-# TODO: Remove
-def value_from_object(field, obj):
-    if django.VERSION < (1, 9):
-        return field._get_val_from_obj(obj)
-    return field.value_from_object(obj)
-
 
 # TODO: Remove
 # contrib.postgres only supported from 1.8 onwards.
diff --git a/rest_framework/fields.py b/rest_framework/fields.py
index 7a79ae93c..8fae159ab 100644
--- a/rest_framework/fields.py
+++ b/rest_framework/fields.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ from rest_framework import ISO_8601
 from rest_framework.compat import (
     InvalidTimeError, MaxLengthValidator, MaxValueValidator,
     MinLengthValidator, MinValueValidator, get_remote_field, unicode_repr,
-    unicode_to_repr, value_from_object
+    unicode_to_repr
 )
 from rest_framework.exceptions import ErrorDetail, ValidationError
 from rest_framework.settings import api_settings
@@ -1840,7 +1840,7 @@ class ModelField(Field):
         return obj
 
     def to_representation(self, obj):
-        value = value_from_object(self.model_field, obj)
+        value = self.model_field.value_from_object(obj)
         if is_protected_type(value):
             return value
         return self.model_field.value_to_string(obj)