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STATEMENT FOR VETERINARY MEDICINE 



Under the aegis of the NASULGC Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable 

 Resources, Veterinary Medicine stands alongside Agriculture, Home Economics, Forestry & 

 Natural Resources, and Oceans & Atmosphere in shouldering its responsibilities to both human 

 and animal health and well-being. These statutory and professional obligations extend to animal 

 health and disease, animal welfare, public health and regulatory medicine (including animal 

 diseases transmissible to humans), environmental issues, and public policy related to the use of 

 animals and products for the benefit of animals. Performance of these obligations will necessitate 

 attention given to the funding of higher education, research, development and technology transfer. 



It is important to preserve and foster multilateral relationships with the allied sciences for 

 the sake of economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. 



CRITICAL ISSUES 



1. PRODUCTION ANIMAL MANAGEMENT - Veterinary research based upon a 

 comprehensive approach to food animal health will advance the management of 

 animal production systems. 



2. FOOD SAFETY - research on food safety, particularly during the preharvest 

 phase, is needed to assure wholesome animal origin foods. 



3. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY - assessment of the interactions of animals and 

 production systems with the environment is essential to the mutual benefits that 

 accrue from improvement of the ecology of both human and animal species, while 

 maintaining agricultural productivity and profitability. 



4. ANIMAL WELFARE - further research is needed to define the effects of stress 

 and disease on present day animal production systems. Better understanding of 

 normal and pathological behavior is necessary to control stress and improve 

 management. This in turn will enhance production cost:benefit ratio as well as 

 animal well-being. 



Accomplishment of these objectives will require coherent public policy that integrates the 

 cognizant disciplines and rewards cooperation between members of such scientific coalitions as 

 found in the Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable Resources. 



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