The Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recently released several reports relevant to production animals, including the 2006 U.S. Animal Health Report and reports from the Swine 2006 and Dairy 2007 studies.

The Animal Health Report provides an overview of the health of livestock, poultry, and aquaculture populations in the United States. The report addresses the many components of the U.S. animal health infrastructure; approaches to disease surveillance, control, and eradication; animal population demographics; and new initiatives.

The report describes notable epidemiologic events during 2006, such as a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The 2006 report includes a new chapter about animal health research at the USDA and at U.S. veterinary colleges. Another new chapter focuses on the USDA's international programs to safeguard and improve animal and human health globally.

The Animal Health Report is available at www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health.

The APHIS National Animal Health Monitoring System produced the Swine 2006 and Dairy 2007 studies. The studies serve as a basis of information for education and research programs.

The initial report from the swine study is "Part I: Reference of Swine Health and Management Practices in the United States, 2006." Seventeen states, accounting for 94 percent of the U.S. swine inventory, participated in the study.

The initial report from the dairy study is "Part I: Reference of Dairy Cattle Health and Management Practices in the United States, 2007." Seventeen states, accounting for 82.5 percent of the nation's dairy cows, participated in the study.

The reports are available at http://nahms.aphis.usda.gov under "Current Projects."