From ASF to COVID: How NAHLN Protects Animal Agriculture

Jan 17, 2023

The U.S. livestock and food sectors account for more than $150 billion in annual cash receipts. It's no wonder threats of foreign and emerging animal disease outbreaks are increasingly making headlines these days.

Since 2002, the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), created through the cooperation of the USDA-APHIS Veterinary Service, USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) has been helping protect these agricultural assets.

NAHLN, a network of federal, state and university-associated veterinary diagnostic laboratories that provide ongoing disease surveillance, responds quickly to disease events; communicates diagnostic outcomes to decision makers; and has the capability and capacity to meet diagnostic needs during animal disease outbreaks, NIFA wrote in its latest update.

Since it started, NAHLN has grown from 12 AAVLD laboratories to 60 AAVLD laboratories throughout the U.S. capable of testing large numbers of samples for specific disease agents.

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Video: A Day in the Life of a Barn Manager

We go behind the scenes with Travis, a dedicated barn manager in Manitoba’s hog sector. He plays a key role in making sure pigs are well cared for, that operations run smoothly, and that his team stays safe and supported.

Discover how the role of a barn manager fits into the wider story of the pork industry’s impact in our province:
Over 22,000 Manitobans depend on the hog sector for for a high-quality, well-paying job.
The sector contributes more than $2.3 billion annually to Manitoba’s GDP.
It accounts for roughly 55% of all agriculture & food-manufacturing jobs in the province.

Want to explore a career in this fast-moving, meaningful industry? Visit www.manitobapork.com/careers to learn about opportunities, training pathways, and how you can be part of it too.