January 2004 Healthy Animals.

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/han17.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 continuing advances at ARS in the fight against Marek's disease in chickens.

Other research highlighted in this issue includes:

• Humane methods of rearing poultry in food production systems.
• A method to track pathogen infections in live pigs.
• An expansion and upgrade of an ARS forage and livestock research facility in Oklahoma.
• A look at how stable flies moved from being barnyard pests to causing problems in pastures and rangeland areas.
• A new approach to experimental vaccines against exotic Newcastle disease in poultry.

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, telephone 301-504-1619, jcore@ars.usda.gov, or sign up online at:

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

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