Risk analysis ... quality assurance ... outbreak responsiveness ...global marketplace. These relatively new concepts typify modern agriculture and represent expanding obligations for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). In 1983, APHIS’ Veterinary Services (VS) initiated the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) as an information gathering program to address these and other challenges.

APHIS has succeeded in controlling or eradicating many domestic diseases and has denied foreign diseases entry or establishment in the United States. These successes have enabled the agency to target endemic diseases; new and emerging pathogens; and environmental, genetic, and management-induced health problems. Together, these factors make up a complicated, many-faceted puzzle of animal production.

NAHMS serves as the impetus for federal, state, industry, and university collaboration to gather fresh information to fill data gaps and identify more puzzle pieces. Through national studies, these multi-disciplinary resources gather data and generate descriptive statistics on animal health, productivity, and management.

The first NAHMS national study was conducted in 1990 when over 1600 pork producers provided information regarding management practices for their operation and recorded animal health events for farrowing sows and piglets. Since that time a total of 37 states have participated in at least one of four NAHMS national studies addressing pork, dairy, beef cow/calf, and beef feedlot production.

The 1995 NAHMS national study will again address the information needs of the U.S. pork industry. The development of a NAHMS national study begins with a needs assessment. NAHMS spent much of 1994 surveying pork producers and allied professionals and holding focus group meetings in order to identify current information gaps.

Food safety, product quality, and environmental issues surfaced as important issues for NAHMS to address. (A fact sheet summarizing these efforts was released December, 1994.) From these broad areas, seven specific objectives were identified for the NAHMS 1995 National Swine Survey.

* What management factors affect the prevalence of Salmonella shedding in grower-finisher pigs?

 

* What management factors affect the seroprevalence of PRRS and other swine pathogens?

 

* What disease prevention methods are employed on grower/finisher operations and how do they affect performance, health, and mortality?

 

* How is feed fed to grower/finisher pigs managed, particularly regarding the use of antibiotics?

 

* What types of waste management systems are used?

 

* What management practices are employed to improve product quality?

 

* What marketing / transportation schemes are utilized, and how do these affect food safety and disease control?

 

The design of the 1995 study calls for two separate studies: a National BASELINE study and a Grower/Finisher ON-FARM study. Both studies will be carried out in the top 16 pork states which represent over 90 percent of the U.S. hog inventory.

The baseline study will be administered in June of 1995 to approximately 3000 producers. Data will be collected from producers of all types and sizes regarding death loss and management practices related to biosecurity, facilities, disease prevention and other such areas.

The on-farm study will focus on the grower/finisher phase and will be offered to approximately 1200 randomly selected producers which have at least 300 market hogs. Two visits will be made by State/Federal VMO’s between July 17, 1995, and January 19, 1996.

Optional submission of 30 whole blood samples from gestating sows and finishers will be tested for PRRS. The serum will be banked for further research on new emerging pathogens and seroprevalence studies. Optional submission of feed samples from the gestation and last finisher ration will be tested for Salmonella and mycotoxin. Up to 160 producers may submit 50 fecal samples from finishing pens to be tested for Salmonella. Fecal samples will also be tested for E. coli O157:H7 and other foodborne pathogens.

All participants will receive information from the 1990 National Swine Survey at their first interview. Participants in the on-farm study will receive summarized results of all data analysis as they are released and test results for their farm, except for E. coli O157:H7. Results on E. coli O157:H7 will only be summarized at a national level to determine whether or not it exists in the U.S. hog population.

Many Swine ’95 results will be compared to those of the NAHMS 1990 National Swine Survey to measure changes in swine health and identify management trends. Composite summaries of Swine ’95 information will be provided to veterinarians, producers, educators, researches, animal health officials and others. The source of all data and samples will be strictly confidential.

For more information, contact: Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health

Attn. Dr. Eric Bush

555 South Howes, Suite 200, Fort Collins, CO 80521

Phone: (970) 490-7800 Internet: nahms_info@aphis.usda.gov