United States Animal Health Association Newsletter - Vol. 33, No. 1, February 2006

USAHAProtecting Animal and Public Health Since 1897

8100 Three Chopt Road, Suite 203, P.O. Box K227, Richmond, VA 23229* (804) 285-3210 office; (804) 285-3367 fax; www. usaha. org

Record Attendance for USAHA / AAVLDAnnual Meeting and Conference

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New record breaking attendancefor the third consecutive year for the109th Annual Meeting of the UnitedStates Animal Health Association(USAHA) and the 48th Annual Con-ference of the American Associationof Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosti-cians (AAVLD) in Hershey, Penn-sylvania, November 3-9, 2005. Totalregistrants attending the meeting was1,428, the best ever. There were 74registrants from 20 foreign countries.

The Presidents Reception andDinner on Sunday evening was one ofthe highlights of the meeting. Special

guests attending the Dinner includedDennis C. Wolff, Secretary, Pennsylva-

nia Department of Agriculture, HenryChilders, President of American Vet-erinary Medical Association(AVMA) and his wife Pat, BillHawks former Under Secretary ofMarketing and Regulatory Programs,United States Department of Agri-culture (USDA), John Clifford,Deputy Administrator, VeterinaryServices (VS), Animal and PlantHealth Inspection Service (APHIS),

Washington, D.C. was the destina-tion and the National Animal Identifica-tion System (NAIS) was the subject, asDr. Bret Marsh, United States AnimalAssociation (USAHA) president, and

Secretary Johanns ConsidersUSAHA Proposal on NAIS

Dr. Bob Hillman, chairman of USAHA’sCommittee on Livestock Identification,visited with U.S. Secretary of Agricul-ture Michael Johanns on January 17.

During their visit the USAHA repre-sentatives delivered an invitation to Sec-retary Johanns to host jointly facilitatedsessions about the NAIS. Drs. Marsh andHillman were tasked with making the tripduring USAHA’s annual meeting in No-vember, following the adoption of Reso-lution 5, regarding NAIS’s tracking data-base.

According to Dr. Marsh, these meet-

Special Recognition of Dr.and Mrs. Lowell R. Barnes

As President, it is my pleasure topresent a specialrecognition of Dr.Lowell Barnes, oneof our life mem-bers, and his wifeMaryhelen. Dr.Barnes has spent alifetime protecting our nation’s animal ag-riculture as well as being a long-time andactive member of the United States Ani-mal Health Association. And of course,Mrs. Barnes has been with him everystep of the way providing her support.

Dr. Barnes earned his DVM degreein 1935 from the Ohio State UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine. As you

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Dr. and Mrs. Barnes

USAHA Officers: Top, L to R: Donald Hoenig, J. Lee Alley,William Hartmann, Richard Breitmeyer.Bottom, L to R: Lee Meyers, Bret Marsh, James Leafstedt

Bob Hillman, Secretary Johanns, Bret Marsh

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In response to a motion passed dur-ing the membership session in HersheyDr. Bob Hillman, Chair of the Commit-tee on Livestock Identification, and I metwith Secretary of Agriculture MichaelJohanns to discuss the National AnimalIdentification System (NAIS). Dr.Hillman and I offered to jointly host withUSDA a series of facilitated sessions tofurther discuss the implementation ofNAIS. Unlike previous meetings onanimal identification, these sessionswould be structured in such a way thatindividuals identified by the many stake-holder groups would meet in a facilitatedsession to determine where there isagreement, as well as identify those ar-eas that present challenges to our indus-tries, and therefore need definitive solu-tions. The Secretary was very pleased

to meet with us, and he pledged to re-view the offer and respond back.

In response to Resolution 39, whichcalled upon USDA to continue to sup-port the work of the Inter-AmericanGroup for the Eradication of Foot andMouth Disease (GIEFA), I traveled toSouth America to express USAHA’ssupport of their Foot and Mouth Dis-ease (FMD) eradication effort. I metwith government and agribusiness lead-ers in Brazil and Ecuador. Althoughthere have been some recent setbacksin their progress, I am confident theSouth American countries understandthe importance of eradicating FMD fromthe Western Hemisphere. They havepledged to aggressively pursue the goalof eradicating FMD by the year 2010.

The USAHA Committee on Govern-

ment Relations will be meeting in Wash-ington, D. C. in mid-February, and wewill be meeting with government and in-dustry leaders to address the issuesbrought forward by our membership atthe meeting in Hershey. All of the reso-lutions and recommendations from theUSAHA Committees have been for-warded to our colleagues in several fed-eral agencies, and we will meet with themto discuss the actions they have takenthus far.

I am planning to attend each of the dis-trict meetings this year, and I look forwardto seeing each of you there. If I can be ofservice to you, please let me know.

New Commentary On Potential forAvian Influenza Human Pandemic

Over the past several months the re-ported number of bird deaths and sub-sequent human deaths resulting fromexposure to influenza A-infected birdshas increased, making front-page newsworldwide. In response to heightenedconcern about the possibility of a result-ant influenza pandemic, CAST has pre-pared a new Commentary, Avian Influ-enza: Human Pandemic Concerns.

The likelihood that the next humaninfluenza virus remains primarily an ani-mal disease, there is hope that a pan-demic can be prevented. But accordingto Task Force Coauthor Dr. Donna K.Carver, North Carolina State University,Raleigh, “Every new poultry infection,and subsequent human exposure, givesthe virus opportunity to exchange geneticmaterial with other influenza viruses andincrease the chance that the bird influ-

enza will become a significant human dis-ease.”

The authors suggest that stopping thespread of this virus will decrease the op-portunity for the virus to adapt to humans,and eradication needs to occur at thefarm level in the countries where it iscurrently circulating. “Funding of pre-vention, surveillance, and eradicationefforts in the at-risk countries will pro-vide tools needed to facilitate the eradi-cation process of the virus where it isdetected and will prevent further spreadand subsequent economic loss,” says Dr.Elizabeth A. Krushinskie of the U. S.Poultry and Egg Association, Task Forceco-author.

“In addition to outlining and assess-ing AI virus and historical pandemics,”concludes CAST Executive Vice Presi-

Dr. Bret MarshPresident’s Remarks

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Charles Beard Inducted intoAgriculture ResearchService (ARS) Science

Hall of FameDr. Charles W. Beard,

who served 21 years as di-rector of the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture(USDA), Agriculture Re-search Service (ARS),Southeast Poultry Labo-ratory, Athens, Georgia,

has been inducted into the ARS ScienceHall of Fame. The ARS Science Hall ofFame recognizes agency researchers foroutstanding career achievements in ag-riculture science. Inductees are nomi-nated by their peers for making majorcontributions to agriculture research. Thescientists must be retired or eligible forretirement to receive the honor.

During his 28-year career at ARS,Beard developed the test for the detec-tion of avian influenza antibodies in se-

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Dr. Charles Beard

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FSIS Administrator Dr. Barbara Mas-ters named William C. Smith as FSIS As-sistant Administrator for the Office ofProgram Evaluation, Enforcement andReview (OPEER) and Dr. KennethPetersen as FSIS Assistant Administra-tor for the Office of Field Operations(OFO).

OFO is the branch of FSIS that di-rects a workforce of more than 7,600federal inspectors and veterinarians whoensure that meat, poultry and egg prod-ucts produced at 6,000 U.S. facilities aresafe, wholesome and accurately labeled.

Food Safety and InspectionService (FSIS) Makes KeyPersonnel Appointments

USDA Continues EnhancedBovine SpongiformEncephalopathy (BSE)Cattle Surveillance

USDA will not ramp down its en-hanced BSE testing of high-risk cattle inDecember as many have speculated, butwill continue the program through at leastthe first quarter of 2006.

The department announced its plansthis week, with Secretary of AgricultureMike Johanns stating he wanted to besure that all regions of the country wereadequately represented in the testing pro-gram, and that otherwise healthy animalsare tested as part of USDA’s public com-mitment on animal testing.

Dr. Wolf Receives Donald E. Bailey AwardDr. Cindy Wolf was presented the Donald E. Bailey Practitioners of the Year Award for 2005 by the

American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners. Dr. Wolf, of the University of Minnesota, Col-lege of Veterinary Medicine, was recognized for her efforts in small ruminant medicine.

News Briefs

IAFWA RecognizesDr. John Fisher

Dr. John Fischer, Director of South-eastern Cooperative Wildlife DiseaseStudy (SCWDS), received this year’sSpecial Recognition Award from the In-ternational Association of Fish and Wild-life Agencies (IAFWA). The award ispresented each year to an individual whohas distinguished him or herself throughoutstanding commitment to wildlife man-agement. Sometimes this is in the formof dedication to a single critical effort,but many times the award is given for acareer-long history of achievement. Theaward was presented at the AnnualMeeting of IAFWA, held in Nashville,Tennessee, September 11-16, 2005. Thisis an important and prestigious award.The staff of SCWDS is extremely proudthat John and SCWDS have been rec-ognized. For more information aboutIAFWA and the Special RecognitionAward, visit their website atwww.iafwa.org.

Bovine SpongiformEncephalopathy (BSE)

SurveillanceUSDA’s Enhanced BSE Surveillance

Program continues having already testedover half million high-risk animals forBSE since June 1, 2004. As of today,the program has tested over 620,000 tar-geted animals at highest risk for BSE andhas found only one confirmed case, evi-dence that our firewalls are working andthe prevalence of this disease in the U.S.is extremely low. Testing 268,500 ani-mals can detect BSE at a rate of 1 in 10million adult cattle at a 99 percent confi-dence level.

2004 U.S. AnimalHealth Report

The United States Department ofAgriculture (USDA) has released the2004 U.S. Animal Health Report. Thisreport is a national overview of domes-tic animal health in the United States.This is the first report of its kind for theUnited States.

The report addresses the many com-ponents of the U.S. animal health infra-structure, animal population demograph-ics, new initiatives and approaches toforeign animal disease surveillance. Asan annual publication, the 2004 reportwill be updated and refined each year,providing another venue to communicatewith stakeholders and the public aboutAnimal and Plant Health InspectionService (APHIS) programs.

The 2004 U.S. Animal Health Re-port can be found on the APHIS website at www.aphis.gov//pa/pubs/2004_us_animal_health_report.pdf.

Salmonella DataShows IncidenceReduction in Beef

Food Safety and Inspection Service(FSIS) released the latest data on theirregulatory testing for Salmonella. FSIStests different categories of beef (steers/heifers, cows/bulls, and ground beef) toensure the operations are meeting theperformance standards for Salmonellaunder the Pathogen Reduction/HazardAnalysis and Critical Control Points (PR/HACCP) final rule. For calendar year2004, the percent of positive sample setsdecreased for all three beef categoriesfrom previous years, and have declineddramatically since implementing PR/HACCP in 1996. More information isposted on USDA’s website at: http://w w w. f s i s . u s d a . g o v / s c i e n c e /progress_report_salmonella _test-ing_1998-2004/index.asp.

Dr. Cindy Wolf

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USAHA Supports National Fishand Wildlife Health Initiative

John Fischer

The United StatesAnimal Health Asso-ciation (USAHA) re-solved at its annualmeeting in Hershey,Pennsylvania to fullysupport the develop-ment and implementa-tion of a National Fishand Wildlife HealthPlan by an inclusive

working group of appropriate govern-mental and non-governmental organiza-tions under the leadership of the Inter-national Association of Fish and WildlifeAgencies (IAFWA). A similar resolu-tion in support of the initiative was passedduring IAFWA’s annual meeting in Sep-tember. During recent years, communi-cation and cooperation have increaseddramatically between USAHA andIAFWA and the collaborative develop-ment of a National Fish and WildlifeHealth Plan will offer ample opportuni-ties for both organizations to bring to-gether the diverse stakeholders with con-cerns for fish, wildlife, and domestic ani-mal health. USAHA support of the ini-tiative is based on the following facts.

The importance of maintaininghealthy populations has long been rec-

ognized by fish and wildlife managersand several disease issues are of grow-ing concern to natural resource, animalhealth and public health professionals andthe publics they serve. Significant dis-eases, such as plague, hemorrhagic dis-ease, pasteurellosis, chronic wasting dis-ease, botulism, West Nile virus, whirlingdisease, and others have been found inwild and farmed fish or wildlife popula-tions in North America and can have sig-nificant impacts on resources. Reservoirsof economically important diseases likebovine brucellosis and bovine tuberculo-sis have inadvertently become estab-lished in native wildlife and threaten live-stock industries in some areas of theUnited States. Foreign animal diseases,such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD),which was eradicated decades ago, andhighly pathogenic avian influenza, whichnever has been reported in North Ameri-can wildlife, also are of concern. Theintentional or accidental introduction ofthese diseases or others could signifi-cantly impact wildlife, domestic animal,or human populations and would requirea coordinated multi-agency response.

State fish and wildlife agencies arethe principal front-line managers of fish

National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF)The Department of Homeland Secu-

rity (DHS) is exploring sites for a pro-posed National Bio and Agro-DefenseFacility to replace the aging Plum IslandAnimal Disease Center.

The Plum Island Center, provides theonly research and diagnostic capabilitiesfor many high-consequence foreign ani-mal diseases. It is also the only UnitedStates laboratory equipped with researchfacilities that permit study of these dis-eases in livestock.

The proposed NBAF would replacethe Plum Island Center and enhance ca-pabilities for biological and agriculture

defense. The new facility would mod-ernize and integrate agriculturebiocontainment laboratories for zoonoticdiseases, foreign animal diseases andhuman pathogens in support of the mis-sion of DHS, United States Departmentsof Agriculture, and Human and HealthServices.

The NBAF would be about 500,000square feet on at least 30 acres. TheDHS is requesting expressions of inter-est for possible locations from federalagencies, state and local governments,industry, academia and other parties andorganizations.

DHS will evaluate locations on thebasis of research capabilities, work force,acquisition, operations and communityacceptance. The department will com-pile a list of sites to include in an envi-ronmental impact statement.

The deadline for expressions of in-terest is on March 31, 2006. Details areavailable from a January 19, 2006 no-tice in the Federal Register, which isonline at www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/. Infor-mation is also available at www.dhs.gov/nbaf or Glynis Fisher by e-mail atglynis.fisher@dhs.gov or by fax at 202-205-3204.

Dr. John Fischer

Dr. Leon RussellFirst AmericanElected WVA

PresidentDr. Leon H.

Russell, Jr. becamethe first Americanelected president ofthe World VeterinaryAssociation (WVA).

For the next threeyears, Dr. Russell willhead the world’s old-est international pro-

fessional organization comprising nearlya hundred member countries.

“I’m very honored and humbled byyour vote,” Dr. Russell told members ofthe WVA Presidents’ Assembly whoelected him. “I will be president to ev-eryone, and I will hear you when youspeak.”

The WVA works closely with theFood and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations, World Organization forAnimal Health (OIE), World Health Or-ganization, and similar organizations onmatters of food safety, food security, an-timicrobial resistance, animal welfare andzoonotic diseases.

Dr. Leon Russell, Jr.

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Editors: J. Lee Alley and Pat CampbellProduction Staff: Pat CampbellArticles and feedback may be submittedvia email to: linda@usaha.org

CONTACT INFO

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USAHA / AAVLD Annual Meeting

Various Well-Deserved Awards

President’s Reception

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Rick Willer,USAHA’S 2005President, PassesThe Gavel To 2006President, BretMarsh.

USAHA / AAVLD Annual Meeting

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Approximately 65 people attended the North Central Dis-trict meeting in Hershey, Pennsylvania. After welcomes andintroduction of guests Dr. Jack Shere updated the District onrecent events in the Eastern Region. Drs. Rick Willer andBret Marsh presented information from the president’s andpresident’s-elect viewpoint on USAHA issues.

Drs. Bill Hartmann and Linda Glazer made an extensivepresentation on bovine tuberculosis in Minnesota. They re-ported on the investigation of the infected herds to date aswell as trace forwards, trace backs and resources needed todo the job.

There was an open discussion on Canadian cattle importproblems primarily with numbers of cattle received not matchingthe Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) and missingidentification. Dr. Steve Halstead presented information onthe Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) regionalization concept.

Dr. Bob Ehlenfeldt gave a brief presentation on Wisconsin’spreparation for hosting the summer 2006 District meeting. This meeting will be held at The Madison Concourse Hotel,Madison, Wisconsin, June 13-15.

The meeting concluded with a treasurer’s report and theelection of Dr. Steve Halstead as president-elect.

North Central DistrictRobert Ehlenfeldt

Northeast DistrictDistrict News

Nancy Halpern

The Northeast District held its biannual breakfast meetingon Sunday, November 6, in Hersey, Pennsylvania during the109th Annual Meeting of USAHA. Following opening remarksfrom the president, Nancy Halpern, John Clifford provided acomprehensive update from United States Department ofAgriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health InspectionService (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS). Rick Willer andBret Marsh also provided comments from United States Ani-mal Health Association (USAHA).

The association approved the treasurers’ report as well asthe proposed by-laws for the association. The Northeast Dis-trict Annual Meeting is rapidly approaching. The meeting willbe held from Monday, March 13 through Wednesday, March15 at the Seaview Marriott Resort & Spa, in Absecon, NewJersey. The meeting will include a laboratory, rabies, andRegional Dairy Quailty Management Association (RDQMA)session on Monday, followed by a conference dinner at thenear-by Renault Winery. Additional topics for the remainderof the conference will include Hot Topics such as the emerg-ing influenza’s, ongoing concerns including implementation ofthe National Animal Identification System (NAIS), and thecontinued expansion of cronic waisting disease (CWD). Formore information about the meeting, contact Joanne Lontz atJoanne.lontz@ag.state.nj.us.

ings would present a new opportunity forUSDA to work with stakeholders tomove ahead to the final goal: a viablenationwide animal identification system.Under USAHA’s proposal, each stake-holder group would designate up to threeindividuals to participate. The meetingswould be facilitated—not just listeningsessions—to hammer out strategies forachieving the end goal.

Dr. Marsh applauded the work of thenational species working groups and theUSDA, but, he acknowledged, the timehas come to move to the next step. “Weneed to get down to a smaller group ofpeople who understand the finer detailsof how this system has to work,” he said.“Then we need to identify the commonground with the hope of moving this ini-tiative forward.”

During the meeting, Secretary Johannspledged to consider USAHA’s offer, task-ing his staff to review the proposal. Dr.Marsh stated that USAHA is looking for-ward to the Secretary’s response.

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and wildlife resources for the benefit,use, and enjoyment of its citizens, andcollectively, the nation. As the principalmanagers of fish and wildlife resources,state fish and wildlife agencies have pri-mary authority and responsibility formanaging free-ranging wildlife, includ-ing diseases, and this authority extendsto most federal lands. In view of the in-creasing need for fish and wildlife man-agers to effectively address disease is-sues, IAFWA, in cooperation with ap-propriate governmental agencies andnon-governmental organizations, includ-ing USAHA, is undertaking the devel-opment of a National Fish and WildlifeHealth Initiative. The ultimate goal of theinitiative is to protect the health of fishand wildlife resources, as well as thehealth of domestic animals and humans,in the United States and eventually, incooperation with Canada and Mexico,throughout North America.

USAHA SupportsHealth Initiative

(Continued from page 4) dent John M. Bonner, “CAST’s newCommentary also evaluates the struc-ture and function of AI viruses as theyimpact human cases of influenza, out-lines pandemic risk assessment, and pro-vides references for further information.”

CAST will be releasing a Compan-ion Piece – Avian Influenza: Trade Is-sues – In February 2006.

The full text of Avian Influenza: Hu-man Pandemic Concerns (CAST Com-mentary QTA 2006-1) is available onlinewithout charge at the CAST website(www.castscience.org) along with manyof CAST’s other scientific publications.

CAST is an international consortiumof 37 scientific and professional societ-ies. It assembles, interprets, and com-municates credible science-based infor-mation regionally, nationally and interna-tionally on food, fiber, agriculture, natu-ral resources and related societal and en-vironmental issues to its stakeholders –legislators, regulators, policymakers, themedia, the private sector and the public.

Avian Flu Pandemic(Continued from page 2)

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Dr. John Kopec (COR ’65), 69Churchton, Maryland, died July 3, 2005.Prior to retirement, he worked for theDepartment of Agriculture. Dr. Kopecbegan his career with the USDA inPuerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,where he assisted with screwwormeradication. He then worked at the PlumIsland Animal Disease Center, beforebecoming area veterinarian-in-charge inMontana. Later, Dr. Kopec worked withbrucellosis eradication in Hyattsville,Maryland. He was a veteran of the AirForce. Dr. Kopec’s three sons and adaughter survive him.

Dr. A. R. McLaughlin (KSU ’47),83, Madison, Wisconsin, died December3, 2005. Known for his expertise in bo-vine brucellosis and tuberculosis eradi-cation, he worked for the state ofWisconsin’s Animal Health Division be-fore retiring in 1991. Prior to that, Dr.McLaughlin served as an epidemiologistfor the Department of Agriculture. Earlyin his career, he was in mixed practicein Nickerson, Kansas.

Dr. McLaughlin was a life memberof the United States Animal Health As-sociation and the Wisconsin VMA. Hiswife, Frances; five sons; and a daughtersurvive him. Memorials may be made toMonona Senior Center, 1011 Nichols Rd.,Monona, WI 53716-2530; or Hooked onBands (helps others get started in a bandor playing an instrument), c/o LouiseOasen, 2829 Milwaukee St., Madison,Wisconsin 53704.

Dr. John Mason, formerly withUSDA and the U.S. Public Health Ser-vice, died July 4, 2005. Dr. Mason be-gan his career with a private veterinarypractice. He then moved on to govern-ment service in 1946 when he became astaff veterinarian for the United Nations.He administered the USDA’s MexicoFoot and Mouth Disease Prevention Pro-gram, investigated encephalitis andworked as a malariologist for the U.S.Public Health Service. He was chosenas director of the Salmonella enteritidisControl Program when it was created in1990.

Emil P. Dolensek AwardThe Emil P.

Dolensek wasawarded post-humously toDrs. EdwinThomas Thorneand Elizabeth S.Williams for ex-

ceptional contributions to the conserva-tion, care and understanding of zoo andfree-ranging wildlife. Known for his ex-pertise on brucellosis and chronic wast-ing disease (CWD) and his work withthe conservation of black-footed ferrets,Dr. Thorne was a wildlife disease con-sultant with the Wyoming Game and FishDepartment. During his 36-year careerwith the department, he also served asveterinarian, chief of its services division,and acting director. Co-founder and pastpresident of the American Associationof Wildlife Veterinarians (AAWV), Dr.

Thorne had also been branch chief ofWyoming’s Wildlife Veterinary ResearchServices. Known for her expertise inCWD and brucellosis, and her work oncanine distemper and the conservationof the black-footed ferret and Wyomingtoad, Dr. Williams was a professor in theDepartment of Veterinary Science, Uni-versity of Wyoming, and editor of theJournal of Wildlife Diseases. A diplo-mat of the American College of Veteri-nary Pathologists, she also served as apathologist at the Wyoming State Vet-erinary Laboratory. Dr. Williams was ap-pointed to a United Nations advisorycommittee on bovine spongiform en-cephalopathy and served on committeesfor the National Academies of Sciences,National Research Council, National In-stitute of Health, and Food and Drug Ad-ministration.

Beth Williams, Tom Thorne

Dr. Mason retired from governmentservice in 1994 to be a private food safetyconsultant to the poultry and egg indus-try. In 2000 he received the Workhorseof the Year Award from the U.S. Poul-try and Egg Association.

Mrs. Michele Turner who servedas the Executive Officer of the Califor-nia Wool Growers Association for 15years died February 2, 2006. She re-ceived the Sheep industry’s highesthonor, the Golden Fleece Award in 1983.She also served on the United StatesAnimal Health Association’s Committeeon Sheep and Goats, and chaired thecommittee for 12 years. She was ap-pointed by President Reagan to repre-sent the United States on the Tri- Na-tional Research Committee on AnimalHealth.

We Say Goodbye To Collegues Who Have Passed Away...

Beard(Continued from page 2)

rum and egg yolk. This test was widelyused during the 1983-84 avian influenzaeradication program in Virginia andPennsylvania and is still relied upon asthe primary laboratory procedure for themonitoring of avian influenza in poultryat veterinary diagnostic laboratories in theU.S. and the National Reference Labo-ratory of Avian Influenza in Ames, Iowa.This test was adopted and is still usedworldwide as the definitive test in certi-fying poultry and poultry products asoriginating from influenza-free flocks.

Beard was also a member of the teamthat conceived and developed the filteredair-positive pressure (FAPP) system forthe housing of specific pathogen-freepoultry. FAPP houses are used world-wide for that purpose.

Beard has conducted experimentalstudies and published on a wide varietyof poultry disease subjects including se-rology, vaccines, pathogenesis and dis-ease containment. He was the first todemonstrate that not all H7 avian influ-enza viruses were highly pathogenic.This finding ultimately resulted in a re-definition of the term “fowl plague.”

After leaving ARS, Beard joined theU.S. Poultry and Egg Association as itsvice president for research and technol-ogy until 2004.

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might imagine, he has been involved inthis nation’s animal disease control pro-grams for many years. He served as aregulatory veterinarian for USDA-APHIS in Illinois and New York, andthen from 1954 to 1972, as the IndianaArea Veterinarian-In-Charge.

In 1973, Dr. Barnes served as a vet-erinarian with the Pan American HealthOrganization and in 1977 he became aconsultant to the Indiana Beef Cattle As-sociation. In 1984 served as Acting StateVeterinarian for Indiana.

The Barnes’ have been attendingUSAHA since 1935. As President, it ismy distinct pleasure to present this awardto Lowell and Maryhelen Barnes.

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Dr. and Mrs. Barnes

USDA and John Cooper, President, In-ternational Association of Fish and Wild-life Agencies (IAFWA).

Paul Otts’ presentation of music, hu-mor, motivation and patriotism during thePresident’s Dinner made us feel goodabout ourselves, our careers and ourcountry.

Deputy Administrator, John Cliffordpresented USDA’s AdministratorsAward to Bob Hillman, Texas State Vet-erinarian and Executive Director of theTexas Animal Health Commission. Thisaward is presented each year during theUSAHA Annual Meeting to an individualwho has made a significant difference

viewed on the Association’s website atwww.usaha.org.

Committee reports and news re-leases pertaining to the Annual Meetingcan also be accessed on the USAHAweb site. Proceedings of the AnnualMeeting are being prepared and whenprinted will be forwarded to the mem-bership. Hopefully during early 2006.

At the General Membership Meet-ing on Wednesday, Past President DonLein gave the Committee on Nomina-tions and Resolutions Report. The Com-mittee Report was approved. PresidentRichard Willer passed the gavel to newlyelected President Bret Marsh. PresidentMarsh reviewed his plans for the asso-ciation during the upcoming year.

Past President Don Lein presentedretiring President Willer a plaque com-memorating his year as President andthe gold Past Presidents’ pin.

The other 2005-2006 USAHA offic-ers are: President elect Lee Myers, FirstVice President James Leafstedt, SecondVice President Donald Hoenig, ThirdVice President Richard Breitmeyer,Treasurer William Hartmann and Sec-retary J. Lee Alley.

The 2005-2006 District Delegatesare: Northeastern District, BobEckroade and Ernest Zirkle; SouthernDistrict, Wayne Godwin and GregorioRosales; North Central District, VelmarGreen and Jay Hawley; Western Dis-trict, H.M. Richards and Bill Sauble.

The 110th Annual Meeting will be Oc-tober 12-13, 2006 at the MinneapolisHilton Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota.We look forward to working with you there.

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Annual Conference

NORTHEAST DISTRICTMarch 13 - 15, 2006Seaview Marriott Resort & SpaGalloway, New JerseyPRESIDENT: Dr. Nancy Halpern, New Jersey609-984-8427 or email: nancy.halpern@ag.state.nj.us

WESTERN DISTRICTMarch 15 - 16, 2006John Ascuaga NuggetReno, NevadaPRESIDENT: Dr. Thomas Linfield, Montana406-444-2043 or email: tlinfield@state.mt.us

SOUTHERN DISTRICTApril 18 - 20, 2006Omni HotelSan Antonio, TexasPRESIDENT: Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas512-719-0700 or email: bhillman@tahc.state.tx.us

NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICTJune 13 - 15, 2006The Concourse HotelMadison, WisconsinPRESIDENT: Dr. Robert Ehlenfeldt, Wisconsin608-224-4880 or email: Robert.ehlenfeldt@datcp.state.wi.us

2006 DISTRICT MEETINGS

in protecting and improving the health ofanimal agriculture in the United States.

David Thain, President, National As-sembly of State Animal Health Officials,presented the National Assembly Awardto Richard Willer, Arizona State Veteri-narian in recognition of his outstandingservice and leadership in regulatory vet-erinary medicine.

Willie Reed, Past President ofAAVLD presented the E. P. Pope Me-morial Award to Patricia Blanchard,Branch Chief of the California AnimalHealth and Food Safety Laboratory,Tulare, California. The Pope Award isthe highest award given by AAVLD andis presented to an individual who hasmade noteworthy and significant contri-bution to AAVLD and to the implemen-tation and recognition of the specialty ofveterinary diagnostic laboratory medicine.

Rick Willer, President of USAHApresented the first USAHA’s PresidentsAward to J. Lee Alley, Secretary,USAHA. This award recognizes an in-dividual who has provided tremendoussupport to the USAHA President as wellas support for the entire USAHA mission.

Fifty-two resolutions were developedby the different USAHA science basedcommittees. These resolutions were pre-sented to the general membership forapproval during the General MembershipMeeting Wednesday afternoon Novem-ber 9, 2005. Resolution 27 was not ap-proved by the membership. The remain-ing 51 resolutions were approved by themembership. The approved resolutionshave been forwarded to the appropriateagencies. These resolutions can be