2019 Goat Study Launch Sheet

U. S. Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services
Veterinary Services

National Animal Health Monitoring System

2019 GOAT STUDY
What is the 2019 Goat
Study?

How was the study
designed?

The 2019 Goat Study is a national study
conducted every ten years by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)
National Animal Health Monitoring
System (NAHMS). NAHMS is a
voluntary federal non-regulatory
program.

This study addresses the priority
issues of the U.S. goat industry and
other stakeholders. We developed
these priority issues from 1,272
responses received from a needsassessment questionnaire. We also
received input from meetings we
held with industry, stakeholders,
and government entities across the
country with representatives from
all segments of the goat industry.

The 2019 Goat Study is designed to
take an in-depth look at the U.S. goat
population and provide new and
valuable information about goat health
and management practices in the
United States.

Is your information
protected?
We use the data collected for
statistical purposes only. All
responses will be kept
confidential. Because NAHMS’
studies rely on voluntary
participation, the privacy of every
participant is protected. Only
those collecting the data know the
identity of the respondent. No
participant name or address is
recorded in any APHIS database.
Data are not reported on
any individual or in a
manner that would
allow the
identification of an
individual.

Who will participate?

About 4,700 goat producers (with 5
or more goats) in 25 of the major
goat-producing States will be asked
to participate in the NAHMS 2019
Goat Study (see map). These States
represent 77.9 percent of U.S. goat
operations and 82.7 percent of U.S.
goats on operations with 5+ goats.

What are the goals of
the study?

The NAHMS 2019 Goat Study will
Identify changes in animal
health, nutrition, and management practices in the U.S. goat
industry from 2009 to 2019

Report practices producers use
to control internal parasites and
reduce anthelmintic resistance

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

To learn more, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/nahms

Describe antimicrobial
stewardship on goat operations
and estimate the prevalence of
enteric pathogens and
antimicrobial resistance patterns

Describe management practices
and producer-reported
occurrence associated with
economically important diseases
Provide a serologic bank for
future research

Why participate?

Your participation in the NAHMS
2019 Goat Study will help your
industry—and your own
operation—by providing valuable
information used to

Help policymakers and industry
representatives make informed
decisions
Conduct economic analyses of
the health and productivity of
the U.S. goat industry

Assist university researchers,
extension personnel, producer
groups and others to identify
educational needs related to
goat health and production

“…in addition to providing useful feedback to
participants about the health status of their
goats the information from this study will
play a critical role in prioritizing [goat]
research needs and justifying research
dollars…” — Joan Dean Rowe, DVM,
American Dairy Goat Association member
and breeder

September 2018 NAHMS Doc #456.0718

Safeguarding American Agriculture

When is the study?

States Participating in the NAHMS 2019 Goat Study

From July to early August 2019,
representatives from USDA’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service will
contact randomly selected goat
producers to administer an on-site
questionnaire.
Between September and December
2019, operations that choose to
continue will be contacted by the USDA
(or State veterinary health
professionals) to complete a second
questionnaire.
Fully participating operations will be
offered the opportunity for free biologic
testing.

How do you benefit?
By fully participating in the 2019
Goat Study, you will receive

Parasite fecal egg count reduction test results

Scrapie resistant genotype test
results

Culture results for presence of
selected fecal bacteria and
antimicrobial susceptibility

"Data collection, management
practices, research direction, and
marketing strategies are all vital for the
well-being of our goat industry. This
NAHMS study is a critical part of the
future development and advancement
of our industry.

Please take the time to accurately
complete the study which will provide
each participant specific information
about the health of their flock as well as
providing a quantum leap forward for
our entire industry." — Tom Boyer,
Producer and Past President of the
American Goat Federation

What are people saying
about the Study?
“. . . Through studies such as this one,
we can evaluate the needs of our goat
populations. We can be proactive and
progressive in addressing the pressing
needs we face using the most current
data to support innovative ideas in
improving the ways we care for our
goats.”—Susan Myers DVM, AASRP
President

“The 2019 Goat Study is an opportunity
for U.S. goat producers to have your
voices heard: What are the issues that
matter most to you? How can
Cooperative Extension services,
especially from Extension veterinarians,
help you with these issues?
The information provided from the
results of this study will guide the
priorities for future goat research and
program opportunities. ”— Dr. Patty
Scharko, American Association of
Extension Veterinarians president

To learn more, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/nahms

What is NAHMS?
NAHMS was established to collect
accurate and valuable information
on animal health and management
in the United States. Since its creation, NAHMS has developed
national estimates on disease
prevalence and other factors
related to the health of U.S. dairy
cattle, swine, beef cattle, equids,
bison, captive cervids, goats,
poultry, and aquaculture. NAHMS
studies are
National in scope

Science based
and statistically
valid
Collaborative,
voluntary, and
confidential

Safeguarding American Agriculture