Source:  Sandra Avant, Agricultural Research Service, 10/27/10

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) today posted a new issue of Healthy Animals, its quarterly online newsletter that compiles news and expert resources on the health and well-being of agricultural livestock, poultry and fish. ARS is the chief intramural scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Each quarter, one article in Healthy Animals focuses on a particular element of ARS animal research. The current issue discusses ARS research to help aquaculture producers keep fish healthy and productive.
Research highlighted in this issue includes:

• Developing vaccines to protect farm-raised catfish and other aquatic animal species against disease-causing pathogens.
• Finding ways to increase catfish production through better oxygen-management practices.
Professionals interested in animal health issues might want to bookmark the site as a resource for locating animal health experts. An index lists ARS research locations covering 70 animal health topics.

 These range from specific diseases, such as Lyme disease, to broad subjects such as nutrition or parasites.

The site also provides complete contact information for the 25 ARS research groups that conduct studies aimed at protecting and improving farm animal health.