Presurvey Letter, Coordinated

Animal and Plant

Health Inspection

Service

National Agricultural Statistics Service

December 2023

Greetings!

In approximately one week, you will be contacted to complete the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Sheep and Goats survey. At the same time, you will have the opportunity to complete the USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Sheep 2024 survey. Together, these two surveys provide a valuable baseline picture of the production, management, and health of the U.S. sheep flock.

NAHMS conducts surveys of the U.S. sheep industry only once every 10 years. You are one of the few sheep producers selected to participate in this study, and your answers will represent many other sheep producers like you.

This study provides important information to help researchers better understand the needs and priorities of sheep producers, diseases affecting sheep, and to obtain more funding to study important sheep topics. Additionally, it will help education and extension specialists better support sheep producers and the U.S. sheep industry to better know and advocate for their producers.

The NAHMS Sheep 2024 study is separate from the NASS Sheep and Goats survey, and we encourage you to complete both surveys. We value the time you take to complete the surveys, and to show our appreciation for your participation, producers with 20 or more ewes who fully participate in the study will have the opportunity to test their sheep for gastrointestinal parasites, lameness pathogens (pathogens that cause digital dermatitis and foot rot), and enteric microbes (Salmonella, E. coli, Enterococcus, and Campylobacter). Please see the enclosed documents for more information. If you are interested in the testing for gastrointestinal parasites, please do not deworm your sheep until after your visit with the Veterinary Services Representative.

Your voluntary participation is essential to this important study. We are required by law to keep your answers confidential, and your responses on the surveys will be used only in combination with other responses at regional or national levels.

Thank you for your time and consideration in supporting this valuable study. It is only with the generous help of people like you that the Sheep 2024 study can be successful. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 1-888-424-7828.

Sincerely,

Amy Delgado, MS DVM PhD Director, Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health Veterinary Services, USDA–APHIS–NAHMS	Gerald Tillman Chief, Survey Administration Branch Census & Survey Division, USDA–NASS

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