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Equine Health Committee

Mid-year Report
September 9, 2003

During the 2003 NIAA Leaders Forum, the following report was given:

The following equine health resolutions were submitted to Mr. Bobby Acord, Administrator, USDA Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service.

          •  Formal implementation of Equine Viral Anteritis Guidelines

          •  Contagious Equine Metritis

There has been continued dialogue on both of these matters between the American Horse Council and USDA with hope of having resolution to the problems.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners through its Emergency Preparedness Committee is actively responding to the NIAA’s Animal Health Emergencies.           

Resolution:  An all day wet lab on Emergency and Disaster preparedness is planned during the AAEP annual convention November 20, 2003.  Also the AAEP has taken formal action to support the advancement of the National Identification Work Plan relevant to the education of the horse industry about the importance of this issue.

The United States Animal Health Association has been informed about NIAA’s resolution regarding West Nile virus encouraging the states to have a response plan to the disease.  Certainly the magnitude of the outbreaks in the Western States has underscored the importance of the attention to the problem.

The U.S. State Horse Councils have similarly responded to support action plans for combating West Nile Virus outbreaks.

I want to express my gratitude to the NIAA for its effort in support of the health and welfare of the U.S. livestock industry.

Dr. G. Marvin Beeman, Chair                                     Dr. Peter Timoney , Vice Chair