The National Animal Health Monitoring
System’s (NAHMS) Equine 2005 study
will consist of two separate elements: an
indepth look at on-farm health-management
factors relating to the control of equine
infectious diseases and an equine events
component. Twenty-eight States will
participate in Equine 2005 (see map).
On-farm Component
The on-farm component will begin in summer
2005. Enumerators from the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics
Service will contact a random sample of
equine operations in the 28 participating
States. This component of the study will
■ Focus on health practices that could
impact the occurrence of equine
infectious diseases,
■ Determine health-management factors
related to the control of equine infectious
diseases, as implemented on-farm in the
28 States,
■ Compare relevant data collected in 2005
to data collected during the NAHMS
Equine ’98 study,
■ Help identify trends in equine health
management related to the control of
equine infectious diseases, and
■ Gather data specific to equine vaccination.
Events Component
The study’s events component will begin in
spring 2005 at selected equine gatherings,
sales, shows, or other events in 6 of the 28
participating States (California, Colorado,
Florida, Kentucky, New York, and Texas). Up
to 60 events from each of the 6 States will be
selected to participate in the study. Data will
be gathered by State and Federal veterinary
medical officers via telephone or personal
interview regarding
■ The scope (number and type) of equine
events in the six States,
■ The use of equine health documents
at events as well as a description of
age, origin, and vaccination history of
attending equids, and
■ The traceability of equids once they leave
the selected events.
Confidentiality
Because NAHMS’ national studies rely on
voluntary participation, confidentiality of
respondent information is a top priority. All
participants are identified (e.g., name and
address) with a numeric code. Only the