From March through August 2021, the USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), in collaboration with the National Agricultural Statistics Service, will conduct a national study focusing on cattle health and management on U.S. feedlots with at least 50 head.
The NAHMS Health Management on U.S. Feedlots, 2021 study is designed to provide a snapshot of current feedlot cattle health management practices. The information collected will also allow for the analysis of trends in specific topics related to cattle health, based on previous NAHMS feedlot studies.
NAHMS collects scientifically accurate data for U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industries on a rotating basis. NAHMS studies are voluntary and confidential.
For this feedlot study, priority issues facing the industry regarding cattle health were identified via responses to a needs assessment questionnaire and from discussions with representatives from various segments of the feedlot industry, including producer associations, feedlot veterinarians, and university and extension experts.
Study Objectives
The NAHMS Health Management on U.S. Feedlots, 2021 study is designed to provide stakeholders with valuable information about the U.S. feedlot industry. This study will:
- Describe health management practices on U.S. feedlots with 50 or more head
- Estimate the prevalence of important feedlot cattle diseases
- Describe antibiotic use and stewardship practices on U.S feedlots
- Describe trends in feedlot cattle health management practices and important feedlot cattle diseases
Participating in any NAHMS study is voluntary. If you are selected to participate in the Health Management on U.S. Feedlots, 2021 study and decide to do so, your answers will statistically represent many other producers in your state.
Benefits
Representatives from NASS will visit participating operations from March through April 2021 to complete a questionnaire. If participants choose to continue in the study, USDA or State veterinary health professionals will visit feedlots from June through August 2021 to complete a second questionnaire.
- Reports published from this study will benefit the U.S. feedlot industry by providing current and scientifically valid estimates to:
- Aid in understanding disease preparedness strengths and vulnerabilities
- Help policymakers and industry stakeholders make informed decisions
- Identify research and development needs on vital issues related to feedlot cattle health
- Enable economic analyses of the health and productivity of the U.S. feedlot industry
- Identify educational needs and opportunities related to feedlot cattle health
- Provide benchmark data on important feedlot cattle health management practices to inform quality assurance programs
- Provide transparent, credible, independent information on U.S. feedlot industry practices that is not collected by the industry itself
For more information, visit aphis.usda.gov/nahms.
