Pre-survey Letter NASS - Equine 2015

July, 2015

Dear Equine Owner/Operator:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will soon conduct an in-depth study of the U.S. equine industry. The Equine 2015 study will yield critical data that will benefit the entire equine industry. I hope we can count on your participation.

This study, which is the third national equine study conducted by USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), will benefit you and the equine industry by

• Describing trends in equine care and health management for study years 1998, 2005, and 2015;

• Estimating the occurrence of owner-reported lameness and describing practices associated with the management of lameness;

• Describing health and management practices associated with important equine infectious diseases;

• Describing animal health related costs of equine ownership;

• Evaluating control practices for gastrointestinal parasites;

• Evaluating horses for presence of ticks and describing tick-control practices used on equine operations;

• Collecting equine sera along with equine demographic information to create a serum bank for future studies; and

• Helping guide future research and education efforts.
  
  

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the study in 28 States. A NASS representative will contact you in July to complete a study questionnaire.

Please be assured that your survey responses will be kept strictly confidential as required by law and used only in combination with other responses to report regional estimates. We value your input and look forward to your cooperation in making the NAHMS Equine 2015 study a success for the entire equine industry.

Sincerely,

Name

Director

National Agricultural Statistics Service