Provide monitoring, surveillance, testing, education, outreach, training, preparedness, and response activities to support national animal health activities in colorado

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $192,980 Cooperative Agreement to the Colorado Department of Agriculture on April 1, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) to deliver monitoring, surveillance, testing, education, outreach, training, preparedness, and response activities supporting national animal health in Colorado through March 31, 2027.

For cattle health, the recipient will distribute quarterly newsletters to 2,800 recipients with annual brucellosis outreach articles; attend three national meetings on brucellosis activities and regulations; revise and update the reportable disease list with standard operating procedures; conduct four epidemiological field investigations with herd brucellosis testing where appropriate; encourage submission of bovine neurological cases for rabies and bovine spongiform encephalopathy testing; submit twelve National Animal Health Reporting System reports annually; maintain, update, and implement Secure Beef and Secure Milk Supply Plans with state and federal partners, producers, and veterinarians; conduct one regional Secure Beef Supply Planning Workshop; update emergency disease response plans for New World Screwworm and foot-and-mouth disease with standard operating procedures and response protocols; facilitate three stakeholder meetings on response and exercise documents; hold one annual Colorado Emergency Management Conference for agricultural and livestock disease preparedness; conduct two training events on animal health and disease control databases; and perform 30 foreign animal disease investigations (or 500 or more if a vesicular stomatitis virus outbreak occurs). Under One Health, the recipient will lead twelve multi-agency coordination calls annually to discuss zoonotic disease incidents and maintain communications networks with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and local public health partners.

Purpose

The purpose of this agreement is to provide monitoring, surveillance, testing, education, outreach, training, preparedness, and response activities to support national animal health activities in colorado.

Activities

Cattle - (i.) newsletters sent to 2,800 recipients each quarter with outreach and education articles specific to brucellosis included once per year; (II.) attend 3 national meetings to discuss brucellosis activities, actions, and regulations; (III.) revise and update reportable disease list with an updated standard operating procedure; (IV.) 4 epidemiological field investigations and necessary herd brucellosis testing when appropriate; (v.) encourage submissions of bovine neurological cases for rabies and bovine spongiform encephalopathy testing; (VI.) 12 national animal health reporting system reports submitted per year; (VII.) maintain, update, and implement secure beef and secure milk supply plans along with state and federal partners, producers, and veterinarians; (VIII.) 1 regional secure beef supply planning workshop with industry and federal partners; (IX.) update emergency disease response plans for new world screwworm and foot-and-mouth disease and associated standard operating procedures manuals and response protocols as needed; (x.) 3 stakeholder meetings to discuss and accept feedback regarding the response and exercise documents; (XI.) 1 annual colorado emergency management conference to continue work on AG and livestock disease preparedness; (XII.) 2 training events conducted to build awareness and understanding of databases that aid in animal health and disease control programs; (xiii.) 30 foreign animal disease investigations (or 500+ if a vesicular stomatitis virus outbreak occurs). One health - (i.) lead 12 multi-agency coordination calls per year to discuss zoonotic disease incidents; (II.) continue strong network of communications with colorado department of public health and environment, local public health, colorado department of agriculture, and stakeholders; (III.) 75 brucella canis samples tested per year; (IV.) 2 one health meetings attended per year; (v.) incorporate biosecurity plan discussions with producers into each zoonotic disease incident as they arise (~150 per year); (VI.) maintain memorandum of understanding for one health between 2 state agencies colorado department of public health and environment and colorado parks and wildlife; (VII.) 1 public webinar on zoonotic diseases; (VIII.) 4 one health meetings per year with state and local public health; (IX.) present at 6 colorado veterinary medical association chapter meetings to discuss zoonotic disease issues in the state for private practicing veterinarians. Sheep goat cervid - (i.) at least 350 colorado-origin samples for scrapie surveillance at slaughter with additional out of state-origin samples; (II.) increase scrapie surveillance of appropriately aged small ruminants found dead or euthanized at livestock auctions, producer ranches and farms, diagnostic labs, veterinary clinics, etc.; (III.) collaborate with USDA veterinary services to detect, respond to, and contain occurrences of reportable diseases involving sheep, goat, cervid species; (IV.) 75 visits per year with producers about sheep and goat identification compliance and recordkeeping at livestock markets, fairs, seminars, meetings, and association gatherings; (v.) 3 visits with various stakeholders to discuss genetic strategies and biosecurity to prevent introduction of scrapie; (VI.) 3 visits with small ruminant industries to encourage submissions and reporting of animals with clinical signs of a program, foreign, or emerging animal disease; (VII.) attend 6 conferences supporting sheep, goat, cervid health programs. Swine - (i.) 2 swine-related meetings per year with the multi-states partnership, national pork board, colorado pork producers council to address swine disease control, such as foreign animal disease surveillance; (II.) 4 investigations per year with colorado parks and wildlife and USDA-wildlife services into feral swine incursions (pseudorabies, brucellosis, african swine fever, classical swine fever, etc.); (III.) 1 certified swine sampler collector training to then offer training courses to colorado producer; (IV.) promote producer-generated secure pork supply plans; (v.) 1 swine diagnostic field training exercise on animal handling, live animal sampling, and necropsy techniques; (VI.) 50 pseudorabies virus surveillance tests per year; (VII.) conduct disease response activities such as traceback investigations and testing as needed as part of epidemiologic investigations; (VIII.) 1,200 swine brucellosis surveillance tests per year; (IX.) complete monthly national animal health reporting system reporting through data integration services system; (x.) participation in the US swine health improvement program. Deliverables and expected outcomes: a.) deliverables - (i.) 1 newsletter sent to 2,800 recipients per quarter; (II.) 3 national meetings to discuss brucellosis; (III.) 12 national animal health reporting system reports per year; (IV.) 1 regional secure beef supply planning workshop; (v.) 3 stakeholder meetings regarding the response and exercise documents; (VI.) 1 annual colorado emergency management conference; (VII.) 2 training events for database utilization; (VIII.) 30-500 foreign animal disease investigations; (IX.) 12 multi-agency coordination calls per year; (x.) 75 brucella canis samples tested per year; (XI.) 2 one health meetings attended per year; (XII.) 1 public webinar on zoonotic diseases; (xiii.) 4 one health meetings per year; (XIV.) 6 colorado veterinary medical association chapter meeting presentations; (XV.) 350+ samples collected for scrapie surveillance; (XVI.) 75 visits per year with producers about sheep and goat identification; (xvii.) 3 visits with stakeholders to discuss prevention of scrapie introduction; (xviii.) 3 visits with small ruminant industry groups; (XIX.) 6 conferences supporting sheep goat cervid health programs; (XX.) 4 investigations per year regarding feral swine; (XXI.) 1 certified swine sampler collector training; (xxii.) 1 swine diagnostic field training exercise; (xxiii.) 50 pseudorabies virus surveillance tests per year; (xxiv.) 1,200 swine brucellosis surveillance tests per year. B.) expected outcomes - (i.) quarterly and annual USDA surveillance reports; (II.) early detection of cattle brucellosis; (III.) consistent and effective data management for rapid animal disease monitoring, surveillance, and response; (IV.) effective stakeholder outreach and education to increase rapid reporting and response timing to prevent and control disease spread; (v.) rapid identification of disease presence in slaughter channels; (VI.) stay current on the latest training, guidance, and regulations related to the plethora of animal disease topics; (VII.) increase detection of foreign, emerging, or program animal diseases from animal populations often overlooked; (VIII.) better implementation of secure supply plans; (IX.) update reportable disease list with updated standard operating procedures and various emergency disease response plans; (x.) lead one health efforts with many agencies and partners; (XI.) meet and exceed state minimums for scrapie sample collections while assisting other states to meet their goals; (XII.) host team exercises and workshops for best preparedness for true animal disease responses.

Intended beneficiaries

A.) 1,500+ producers (including poultry, cattle, swine, sheep, goat), livestock feedlots, slaughter establishments, and livestock markets; b.) 100+ individuals (including animal owners, fairs, exhibitions, zoos). C.) 1,500+ licensed and accredited veterinarians; d.) indirectly benefits millions of consumers globally through food safety and prevention of zoonotic diseases.

Subrecipient activities

None known.