“Private veterinarians play a vital role in protecting the U.S. dairy herd from foot-and-mouth Key Facts on FMD disease,” said Jamie Jonker, Ph.D., vice president for sustainability and scientific affairs for the Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a transboundary animal National Milk Producers Federation. “Hands-on disease (TAD) that severely affect the production of livestock and training opportunities to observe foot-and-mouth disrupting regional and international trade in animals and animal disease are an excellent opportunity for dairy products. veterinarians to hone their skills in protecting the The disease is estimated to circulate in 77% of the global liveU.S. dairy herd from the disease.” stock population, in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as in a Foot-and-mouth disease is not a food safety limited area of South America. Countries that are currently free of or public health threat, but it does pose a serious FMD remain under constant threat of an incursion. economic risk to the U.S. agricultural and food Seventy-five percent of the costs attributed to FMD prevention industry due to large-scale production losses and and control are incurred by low income and lower-middle income severe restrictions on international trade. Control and eradication costs could also be significant. Ac- countries. Africa and Eurasia are the regions which incur the largest costs, accounting for 50% and 33% of the total costs respectively. cording to USDA, research suggests an outbreak The morbidity rate may approach 100% in susceptible cattle popin the U.S. could result in losses of $15 billion to ulations. A global strategy for the control of FMD was endorsed in $100 billion, depending on the duration of the 2012. outbreak, the extent of trade restrictions and consumer reactions. “We are proud to offer this course, the first of its kind for North America, to give our veterinarians the resources and training to properly and safely manage a potentially catastrophic disease among our nation’s livestock,” said Eleanor M. Green, DVM and the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M. The European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease has been offering this training for over 10 years for other countries, but this is the first opportunity designed specifically for North America. A field veterinarian from U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will also take part during each training to discuss the specifics of a U.S. response. Dr. Burke Healy, US Chief Veterinarian and Veterinary Services Deputy Administrator for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said, “While we’ve been able to send a few veterinarians to a European course in the past, having a course hosted by a U.S. institution will mean that many more U.S. veterinarians will be able to participate. Private practitioners play an important role in helping us detect foreign animal diseases like foot-and-mouth disease or African swine fever, should they ever occur in the United States, giving us a better chance to catch a disease before it is widespread.”
$35
4 FULL ISSUES FOR ONLY
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN BOER GOAT ASSOCIATION
First Last Company Email Address City State Phone Number
Zip
Mail completed subscription card with payment or credit card information to: ABGA; 4258 S Jackson St.; San Angelo, TX 76903. Once your subscription card is received, you will receive an email confirmation from ABGA to verify your method of payment and information.
The Boer Goat - 21
