Launch Sheet

United States Department of Agriculture

NAHMS Bison 2022 Study
Study Launch

From July 2022 through November 2022, the USDA’s
National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), in
collaboration with the National Agricultural Statistics
Service, will conduct a national study focusing on ranched
bison health and management in the United States. All
bison producers will be able to participate in the study,
which is designed to provide a snapshot of current health
and management practices on U.S. bison operations. The
information collected will also allow for the analysis of
trends in specific topics related to bison health, based on
the previous bison study, NAHMS Bison 2014.

Study Objectives
The NAHMS Bison 2022 Study is designed to provide
stakeholders with valuable information about the U.S.
bison industry. This study will describe the
■ Status and changes in the U.S. bison industry
from 2014 to 2022, including operation
characteristics (such as inventory, size, and
type), production purposes, and marketing
practices;
■ Current U.S. bison industry production practices
and challenges, including animal management
and welfare, nutrition and range management,
and environmental stewardship;
■ Health management and biosecurity practices;
■ Producer-reported occurrence of select health
problems, associated management practices or
actions, and causes of bison mortality; and
■ Determine the prevalence of select economically
important pathogens for bison and evaluate
quality of pasture forage.

Study Activities

Background
NAHMS collects scientifically accurate data for U.S.
livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industries on a
rotating basis. NAHMS studies are voluntary and
confidential. For this bison study, priority issues facing
the industry related to bison health and management
were identified via responses to a survey to assess
information needs and from communications with
representatives from segments of the bison industry,
including producer associations, veterinarians, and
university and extension experts.
“The Bison 2014 Study was the first-ever comprehensive
survey of herd health, management practices and other
important factors in the U.S. bison business. USDA’s
National Animal Health Monitoring System is now
developing a follow-up study to build upon that baseline.
This new study will provide the National Bison Association
and other organizations, bison researchers, and
policymakers with valuable information on the priority
issues facing our business. This study will only be useful,
though, if you and your fellow bison producers participate in
the upcoming survey. The survey will be coming soon, so
please respond promptly.”

Participating in any NAHMS study is voluntary.
Producers who choose to participate in the NAHMS
Bison 2022 Study will statistically represent other
producers in their State who choose not to
participate. The more producers who participate,
the more representative the results will be.
As mentioned above, all U.S. bison producers,
including Tribal entities, can participate in the
study. All producers on the NASS listframe who
report one or more bison will receive a written
questionnaire in the mail in early July 2022. The
study will offer three different modes for producers
pr
to use to complete the questionnaire:
 mailed paper questionnaire, which producers
will complete on their own and return in a
stamped, preaddressed envelope;
 online Web questionnaire accessed by a
unique identification code; or
 a telephone interview with a NASS
representative, who will administer the
questionnaire to the producer over the phone
and then submit the responses.

Dave Carter
Executive Director, National Bison Association
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Opportunities for free
biological sampling
Producers who complete the questionnaire will be
able to sign up for free biological testing. Biological
sampling can be conducted from July through
November 2022. Producers will receive their
results, and results are confidential. Interested
producers can participate in any or all of the
sampling opportunities:
▪ Fecal parasite testing, to look for
gastrointestinal parasite presence and
dewormer resistance;
▪ Enteric microbe testing, to detect certain
microbes in operation bison; and/or
▪ Pasture forage testing to evaluate nutritional
quality of forage.

“USDA's National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS)
conducts various studies of different livestock sectors to
document benchmark information on animal health, nutrition,
and research. USDA is planning to conduct an update to the
Bison 2014 study in 2022, and it is very important for industry
stakeholders to participate in the study. I strongly encourage
bison producers to look for the study survey in summer of
2022 and respond in a timely manner. The more participation
in the survey, the better USDA can respond to the needs of
the industry.”
Dustin Oedekoven, DVM DACVPM
State Veterinarian and Executive Secretary
South Dakota Animal Industry Board

Confidentiality

Scientific Approach
NAHMS was established to collect accurate and
valuable information on animal health and
management in the United States. Since 1990,
NAHMS has developed national estimates on disease
prevalence and other factors related to the health of
U.S. bison, beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep,
goat, equine, poultry, and catfish populations.
NAHMS studies are national in scope, science based,
statistically valid, collaborative, voluntary, and
anonymous.

Benefits to Participating
Full participation in the NAHMS Bison 2022 study will
provide producers--and industry--with the following
benefits.
■ Benchmark data on important bison health management
practices and the health of bison in the United States.
■ Improved understanding of disease preparedness
strengths and vulnerabilities.
■ Information important for policy makers and industry
stakeholders.
■ Identification of educational needs and opportunities
related to bison health.
■ Knowledge about gastrointestinal parasites and
enteric microbes in herds.
■ Information about pasture forage quality and
nutritional value.

To be sure their operation is included, producers can visit
https://www.agcounts.usda.gov/static/get-counted.html .

For More Information
USDA–APHIS–VS–CEAH
NRRC Building B, M.S. 2E7
2150 Centre Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80526-8117
Phone: 866-907-8190
Email: [email protected]
Or visit NAHMS at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/nahms
#xxx.xxxx
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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service