Results of a USDA ARS- and NIFA-Sponsored Workshop on Animal Health
In 2010, the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) held a joint animal health research planning workshop with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). ARS plays a key role in identifying and addressing research needs within the animal science discipline. Stakeholders from this workshop developed the following prioritized list of animal health priorities for future research (Table G-1).1
TABLE G-1 Animal Health Priorities for Future Research
Species | Ranked 1 | Ranked 2 | Ranked 3 | Ranked 4 | Ranked 5 | Ranked 6 |
Beef cattle | Bovine respiratory disease complex including BVD | -Mycobacterial diseases (TB and Johnes) -Vectorborne diseases -Infectious reproductive disease | Minimize impact of emerging infectious diseases | Animal well-being |
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1 Additional information can be found at http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Program/103/ARSNIFAWorkshop/PrioritiesCondensedFinal.pdf. Accessed September 2, 2014.
Species | Ranked 1 | Ranked 2 | Ranked 3 | Ranked 4 | Ranked 5 | Ranked 6 |
Poultry breeder/ layers | Housing systems’ influence on health/welfare | Salmonella enteriditis | Tumor viruses | Colibacillosis | Mycoplasma gallisepticum | Infectious laryngotracheitis |
Poultry/ broilers/ meat | Functional genomics for disease resistance | GI disease/ integrity/host microbial interactions | Disease affecting world trade | Respiratory disease complex | Vaccines and their limitations | Tumor viruses (Marek’s, ALV, REV) |
Dairy Equine | Lameness Emerging & reemerging diseases | Johnes Noninfectious diseases of economic importance | Tuberculosis Reproductive and developmental health | Mastitis Equine genomics | Transition cow Foreign diseases & zoonoses | Infertility Nutrition and metabolic disorders |
Goat | Gastrointestinal parasites (worms and protozoa) | Species-specific approvals for necessary pharmaceuticals | Control measures for caseous lymphadenitis | Mastitis control and treatment | Q Fever | Eradicate scrapie |
Swine | PRRS elimination | Emerging and zoonotic diseases | Optimize health of growing pig | Periparturient production efficiency | Healthy pig production with restricted antimicrobial access | Foreign animal diseases |
Species | Ranked 1 | Ranked 2 | Ranked 3 | Ranked 4 | Ranked 5 | Ranked 6 |
Sheep | Research on bighorn/domestic sheep compatibility | Eradicate scrapie | Control and prevention of ovine progressive pneumonia | Prevent malignant catarrhal fever in bison and cattle | Genetic/ genomic solutions to economically significant sheep diseases | Improved diagnostics for ovine Johnes, Q Fever, and Brucella ovis |
Specialty species | Tuberculosis rapid diagnostic tools | Prevent sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever in specialty farmed species | Epizootic hemorrhage disease/ bluetongue | Bacterial pneumonia—Pasturella/Fus obacteria | Parasite control | Tools and resources |
Turkey | Clostrial dermatitis (turkey cellulitis) | Preharvest food safety | Influenza in turkey breeders | Enhanced gut health | Histomoniasis | Understanding the adaptability of pathogens to current treatments |