Since 1961 the mission of the National Animal Disease Center, a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture s Agricultural Research Service, has been to secure the health of America s livestock by conducting basic research on animal diseases and apply the results to animal disease prevention and control programs.
Healthy animals are more productive animals.
Frequently, a research project requires the use of an animal free of microorganisms. Veterinary surgeons perform a Caesarean section to obtain germ-free piglets, which are used to investigate the role of possible pathogens in causing disease. These germ-free animals are used to investigate a variety of diseases ranging from new diarrheal diseases of swine to respiratory diseases of cattle. Work on new vaccines against respiratory and enteric diseases of newborn pigs enhances the health, well-being and productivity of swine. Diseases associated with highly productive animals are becoming more relevant as infectious diseases are better controlled.