The overall outcome would contribute to improved efficiency and sustainability of the animal production unit and its environmental setting. This program solicits both basic and applied research proposals relevant to U.S. animal agriculture, including horses and aquaculture species. A major limiting factor in animal agriculture, however, is the lack of basic, foundational information about infectious and noninfectious causes of disease in animals of agricultural importance. New knowledge is needed to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies for current animal health problems. The ability of animal pathogens to establish new niches or to undergo genetic mutation will also require research to address new and re-emerging diseases that threaten U.S. animal agriculture.
Innovative research is sought in all areas of animal health.
Animal well-being research is needed to provide information about how animals interact with the production environment and respond to animal management practices. Being Program should be justified in terms of the program guidelines. Proposals involving reagent development per se also need to be justified in terms of the program guidelines.