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Cattle Health Committee
Mid-Year Report
September 9, 2003

During the 2003 NIAA Leaders Forum, the following report was given:

While at USDA, Riverdale Headquarters on August 19-22, 2003, Dr. Coffman discussed the Cattle Health Committee position statement on Preventing Exotic Ticks and Hemoparasitic Disease in the USA with staff and administration.  In addition Dr. Coffman participated in a one day session including VS, ARS, State Veterinarians, American Horse Council, Texas A&M and NVSL to discuss Equine Piroplasmosis.  The discussions overlapped with Cattle related tick issues and disease associated problems.  Numerous other NIAA position statements were touched on with the over all outcome that all had been duly noted however action related to them had been significantly compromised by the California END activity.  The good news is that the CA END related resource drain is shrinking, however it is obvious USDA personnel at all levels are significantly “burned out”.

Dr. Leroy M. Coffman, Chair                                     Dr. Karen Jordan , Vice Chair