New Issue of Healthy Animals Now Online

The Agricultural Research Service today posted a new issue of Healthy Animals at:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/ha/han15.htm

This quarterly online newsletter compiles ARS news and expert resources on the health and well-being of agricultural animals and fish.

Each quarter, one article in Healthy Animals focuses on a particular element of ARS animal research. The current issue looks at ARS research on mastitis, the United States' most costly dairy cow disease. Mastitis is an inflamation of the udder, caused by bacterial infection. It leads to lower milk production, wasted milk and a shorter life for infected dairy cows.

Other research highlighted in this issue includes:

• An oil emulsion vaccine of inactivated Salmonella enteritidis protects hens.
• A new software program estimates the relative economic value of multiple beef cattle traits.
• A hormone-producing gene that may suppress appetite in chickens is being sequenced.
• A natural-based algicide might prevent off-flavors in catfish ponds.
• Fish oil containing omega-3 fatty acids helps develop the immune systems of young, weaned pigs.

Professionals interested in animal health issues may want to bookmark the site as a resource for locating animal health experts. An index lists ARS research locations covering approximately 70 animal health topics. These range from specific diseases, such as Lyme disease, to broad subjects like nutrition or parasites. The site also provides complete contact information for the more than 25 ARS research groups that conduct studies aimed at protecting and improving farm animal health.

To receive an e-mail alert about each future issue's posting online, contact Jim Core, ARS Information Staff (301-504-1619, jcore@ars.usda.gov). Or you can sign up online.

ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.