United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 1814

Help America’s

Livestock Industries:

Participate in the

National Nonambulatory

Livestock Study

The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits

discrimination in all its programs and activities on the

basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,

disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital

or family status. (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 USDA,

Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten

Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720-5964

(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity

provider and employer.

Issued February 2005

Confidentiality

Because NAHMS’

national studies rely on

voluntary participation,

maintaining respondents’ confidentiality is

a top priority. No

individual’s data will be

reported. Reports will

present summarized

data for national or

regional estimates.

For More Information

For more information, contact

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Veterinary Services, Attention: NAHMS

NRRC Building B, Mail Stop 2E7

2150 Centre Avenue

Fort Collins, CO 80526–8117

Phone: (970) 494–7000

E-mail: NAHMSweb@aphis.usda.gov

or visit NAHMS on the Web at

<http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/ncahs>.
National Nonambulatory

Livestock Study

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)

National Nonambulatory Livestock Study will

provide the first statistically reliable estimates on

the number of nonambulatory cattle, goats,

horses, pigs, and sheep in the United States and

provide insight as to how these animals are

handled onfarm. The study is a collaborative

effort among producers and USDA’s National

Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service–

Veterinary Services.

For this study, nonambulatory animals are

defined as

■ Adult livestock that cannot stand or walk for

any reason (no minimum length of time), and

■ Young livestock that cannot stand or walk for

at least 12 hours.

Onfarm Data Collection

All Cattle

In January 2004, USDA–NASS enumerators

interviewed about 40,000 cattle producers

across the United States to determine the

number and disposition of nonambulatory cattle

and calves. The interview was repeated in

January 2005. Results from both interviews will

be published in spring 2005.

Dairy Cattle

From April 1 through May 13, 2005, a detailed

onfarm questionnaire will be administered on a

sample of dairy operations (from 21 major dairy

States) that had nonambulatory cattle in 2004.

In addition, as a means of comparison, the

questionnaire will be administered on a sample

of dairy operations that did not have nonambulatory cattle in 2004. Questionnaire results will be

published in late 2005.

Sheep and Goats

In January 2005, USDA–NASS enumerators

interviewed U.S. producers regarding the

number and disposition of nonambulatory sheep

and goats. The interview will be repeated in

January 2006. Results from both interviews will

be published in spring 2006.

Pigs

Indepth questions on factors associated with

nonambulatory and fatigued pigs will be added

to the National Animal Health Monitoring

System’s (NAHMS) Swine 2006 study, which will

be conducted in 17 major hog-producing States

in summer 2006.

Horses

Indepth questions on factors associated with

nonambulatory horses will be included in the

NAHMS Equine 2005 study, which will be

conducted in 28 States in summer 2005.

Study Benefits

By participating in the first-ever National

Nonambulatory Livestock Study, you will help the

U.S. livestock industry, your specific industry,

and your own operation. This voluntary study will

■ Determine the extent of nonambulatory cattle,

goats, horses, pigs, and sheep on U.S. farms;

■ Describe how various livestock industries

handle nonambulatory animals;

“Participating in the survey will help provide vital information for improving

the productivity and welfare of U.S. livestock.”

■ Ascertain the disposition of nonambulatory

livestock at a national level;

■ Enable industry leaders and legislators to

make science-based decisions on the sensitive issues regarding nonambulatory animals;

■ Provide veterinarians and producers with

information about species’ differences in

relation to nonambulatory animals; and

■ Help evaluate feasible and humane handling

practices for managing nonambulatory cattle,

goats, horses, pigs, and sheep.

—Dr. Temple Grandin Department of Animal Sciences Colorado State University