Continued investment in foreign animal disease prevention critical to the livestock sector

Stakeholders in the livestock industry are urging members of Congress to protect funding for animal disease prevention.  Referred to as the 3-legged stool, livestock producers want to ensure the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank, the National Animal Disease Preparedness Response program, and the National Animal Health Network are fully funded. 

During his testimony before the House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry on Wednesday, Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota rancher, and president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says an outbreak of a disease like Foot and Mouth Disease would be catastrophic to the beef industry.

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