But that would be wrong. These research dollars will be an investment to protect and sustain a significant part of the U.S. economy. The biggest single hindrance to reaping the full benefits of the United States' booming animal production system is animal disease. Diseases that debilitate and kill animals can take a huge bite out of livestock producers' revenues. Economic losses to diseases of livestock and poultry have been estimated to be 17 percent of production costs in the developed world and more than 34 percent in the developing world.
Diseases limit the ability of animals to produce optimum levels of meat, milk, and fiber.
The first step in controlling or eliminating disease is to diagnose it. Today's cutting-edge technology is making that possible. ARS microbiologist Judith H. Stabel cloned a specific gene for Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, the organism causing Johne's. Then Stabel and other researchers used that cloned gene in a test to unmask the Johne's organism in blood or other tissue. These types of early-warning diagnostic tests allow veterinarians and producers to take action during the early stages of infection, when infected animals may appear normal and healthy but could already be spreading the disease to their herdmates.