Animal health surveillance in the United States via the National Animal Health Monitoring System

The National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) is an integrated national surveillance system which collects data on disease incidence and prevalence, mortality, frequency of management practices, and disease costs. Surveillance activities rely on collaboration with government agencies, universities, diagnostic laboratories, private veterinary practitioners, and producer organizations: The historical development of the NAHMS program, two surveillance programs involving diagnostic laboratories and sentinel veterinary practitioners, and national commodity studies are described in the paper. National commodity studies incorporate confidential on-farm collection of health data and biological specimens and use statistically-based selection and estimation procedures which allow inferences to national livestock populations. A national survey of sow and litter health in 1990 and the proposed study of grower/finisher pig health in 1995 are used to demonstrate the components of such studies.