APHIS Factsheet

Veterinary Services March 2013

Questions and Answers: 

The National Veterinary 

Stockpile and Animal 

Handling Equipment

The National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS) program, 

coordinated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 

provides support to States, Tribes, and Territories 

responding to damaging animal disease outbreaks. 

Within 24 hours, the NVS can provide veterinary 

countermeasures—including certain types of animal 

vaccines, antivirals, supplies, equipment, and response 

services—to animal health officials in affected areas. 

To learn more about this program, see the NVS 

factsheet on APHIS’ Web site at www.aphis.usda.gov/

publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/

veterinary_stockpile.pdf.

The NVS can provide a variety of equipment to help 

maintain safe and effective animal handling during 

activities needed to address a disease outbreak.

Q. What types of animal handling equipment does 

NVS keep in its inventory?

A. Our inventory currently includes animal handling 

equipment appropriate for both cattle and swine 

operations with fewer than 50 animals. The swine 

equipment is also suitable for use with sheep and 

goats. The equipment is designed for containing and 

restraining livestock to conduct physical examinations, 

collect samples, and administer vaccines during 

an outbreak. 

Specifi cally, the cattle handling equipment includes 

portable self-contained mobile corrals, panels and 

gates, and squeeze chutes. The swine handling 

equipment includes working chutes and panels 

and gates.

All of the equipment is self-contained on trailers and can 

easily be moved from premises to premises by hitching 

the trailer to a half-ton pickup truck. The mobile corrals 

are currently the heaviest piece at 1,200 pounds.

The equipment can be stored outside with minimal 

maintenance.

Q. What equipment is needed to offload the animal 

handling equipment?

A. The equipment will typically arrive on a fl atbed trailer. 

A 4,000- to 12,000-pound capacity forklift with 6-foot 

tines (affixed or as an attachment) is needed to offload 

and load the equipment.

Q. Can the equipment travel at highway speeds?

A. The animal handling equipment should not be towed 

at speeds above 50 miles per hour. If higher speeds 

are required, the equipment should be loaded onto a 

fl atbed or lowboy trailer. These types of trailers are 

more suitable for transporting the equipment at 

 highway speeds.

Q. Can you provide more details about the mobile 

corral?

A. The mobile corrals are designed for quick movement 

between locations. The expandable hinged and 

wheeled panels can be set up by a team of two to three 

trained people in less than 15 minutes.

Each mobile corral holds up to 50 head of mature 

beef cattle.

Q. Can NVS provide equipment for handling larger 

animals, like bison or large bulls?

A. We can provide equipment for larger animals. Surge 

contracts are in place with a variety of manufacturers to 

purchase a full range of animal handling equipment to fi t 

the need of the animal disease event.

Q. Are images of the animal handling equipment 

available?

A. A photograph of each unit is displayed in the 

NVS Logistics Catalog. If you are an NVS planner, 

you may request this catalog by emailing us at 

nvs@aphis.usda.gov.

Q. If I have questions about the NVS or available 

animal handling equipment, who should I contact?

A. Email us at nvs@aphis.usda.gov with any questions. 

More information is also available on our Web site 

at www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergency_

management/nvs.shtml.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture