United States Dep

Animal and Plant HProgram Aid No. 20

SmLiv20

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250–9410, or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or (202) 720–6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.February 2011For More InformationTo find out more about Small-Scale Livestock Operations 2011, please contactUSDA–APHISVeterinary Services, Attention: NAHMSNRRC Building B, Mailstop 2E72150 Centre AvenueFort Collins, CO 80526-8117Phone: (970) 494–7000E-mail: NAHMS@aphis.usda.govOr visit NAHMS on the Web at http://nahms.aphis.usda.gov

What Your Participation InvolvesParticipation in all NAHMS studies is voluntary and confidential. Operations are selected randomly, and those selected will be contacted by NASS, the USDA agency responsible for the study’s data collection. If you are selected to participate in the Small-Scale Livestock Operations 2011 study, you can expect the following general activities and schedule.

Z During March 2011, NASS will send you a letter explaining 

the study.

Z Shortly thereafter, you will receive a study questionnaire in 

the mail.

Z If the questionnaire is not returned, a NASS representative 

will contact you via telephone and offer to help you complete the questionnaire over the phone.

A Scientific ApproachAPHIS established NAHMS to collect and report accurate and valuable information on animal health and management in the United States. Since 1990, NAHMS has developed national estimates on disease prevalence and other factors related to the health of U.S. beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, equine, poultry, catfish, sheep, and goat populations.ConfidentialityBecause NAHMS’ studies rely on voluntary participation, APHIS protects the privacy of every participant. Only those collecting the data know the identity of the respondent. No name or address is ever recorded in any APHIS database. No data will be reported on any individual or in a manner that would allow the identification of an individual.

“As the market changes, and producers react by raising a greater diversity of animals on a larger number of small and mid-size operations, using a larger variety of practices demanded by consumers, this study will allow government agencies and industry associations to assess the need for programs and policies to support a wider array of operations.”

—Dawn Thilmany McFaddenProfessor and Agribusiness Extension EconomistColorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 
The first national study of small-scale livestock* operations 

conducted by the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), will launch in March 2011. Known as Small-Scale Livestock Operations 2011, the study will include operations throughout the country that have cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, aquaculture species, and/or other livestock species. With this study, NAHMS—a unit within the Veterinary Services (VS) program of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)—seeks to increase knowledge about the characteristics of and challenges faced by small-scale livestock operations.Study FocusSmall-Scale Livestock Operations 2011 is designed to provide individual participants, stakeholders, and the industry with valuable information about the health, marketing, management, and biosecurity practices of small-scale livestock operations in the United States. Participating operations will have livestock such as cattle, horses, poultry, swine, goats, and/or aquaculture species, and they might also raise crops. The USDA defines a small-scale operation as having total annual sales of agricultural products less than $250,000; this study will focus on operations with annual sales between $10,000 and $500,000.The Small-Scale Livestock Operations 2011 study has the following objectives:

Z Provide a description of animal health, marketing, and 

management practices on small-scale operations;

Z Identify challenges faced by small-scale operations; andZ Describe management and biosecurity practices important 

for the control of infectious diseases on small-scale operations. 

How You Can HelpYour participation in the Small-Scale Livestock Operations 2011 study will help NAHMS develop reliable and accurate national estimates about important agricultural issues. This valuable information will have many uses, including the following:

Z Assisting university researchers, extension agents, 

producer groups, and others in identifying and focusing educational efforts on vital issues related to small-scale operations.

Z Assisting animal-health officials, policymakers, and 

industry members in making informed decisions to help protect U.S. agriculture and animal health.

* Livestock includes cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, aquaculture 

species, and other farm animals raised for home use or sale.

How You Will BenefiBy participating in the Sstudy, you will receive a that will enable you to cmanagement decisions operations. These pubmanagement and markrelated issues.

“Small-scale livestock operations in the United States help create prosperous rural communities and provide safe and nutritious foods for our country and the world. Today, these operations face many challenges, as well as opportunities. The NAHMS Small-Scale Livestock Operations 2011 study will describe these operations and examine their needs. Those who participate in the study will contribute information that will help direct research, develop educational programs, and guide policy development.”

—Dr. John CliffordDeputy Administrator, Veterinary ServicesAnimal and Plant Health Inspection ServiceUnited States Department of Agriculture

The Small-Scale Livestock Operations 2011 Study