The United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) held its 111th annual meeting in Reno, Nev., from Oct. 18 through Oct. 24. During the meeting, many sheep-related topics were covered with action taken on several.

Minor Species/Minor Use drug availability and research, Brucella ovis diagnostics, national animal health reporting systems, scrapie surveillance and eradication funding and scrapie diagnostic testing are just some of the topics that resulted in resolutions for recommended action.

In addition, the committee on wildlife diseases and the committee on sheep and goats passed a joint resolution to seek science-based answers to potential bighorn and domestic sheep conflicts.

The policy, in part, says that "The USAHA Committee on Wildlife Diseases and the Committee on Sheep and Goats are in the process of forming a working group, comprised of representatives of state and federal animal health and wildlife agencies, the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) and the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, to develop best management practices for grazing domestic sheep (and goats) on public lands where contact between domestic sheep and bighorn sheep may occur.

The resolution states, "The USAHA urges the secretaries of the United States Department of Agriculture and the Department of Interior to seek resources through the President's budget to fund research to better elucidate the epidemiology and pathogenesis of bighorn and domestic sheep disease interactions in order to inform effective management decisions."

According to Jim Logan, DVM, ASI health committee chairman, "I consider this action by the USAHA to be a very positive step and look forward to working on this resolution in the very near future."

USAHA, the nation's animal health forum for over a century, is a science-based, non-profit, voluntary organization. Its 1,400 members are state and federal animal health officials, national allied organizations, regional representatives and individual members. USAHA works with state and federal governments, universities, veterinarians, livestock producers, national livestock and poultry organizations, research scientists, the extension service and seven foreign countries to control livestock diseases in the United States. The association represents all 50 states, seven foreign countries and 18 allied groups serving health, technical and consumer markets.
Staff contact: Paul Rodgers, ext. 65

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