The National Animal Disease Labora- 
tory at Ames, Iowa, is the U.S. Depart- 
ment of Agriculture’s research center for 
the study of livestock diseases that occur 
in the United States. 
Here in the world’s most modern vet- 
erinary research facility, scientists are 
seeking ways to conquer the infectious 
animal diseases that rob American live- 
stock producers of $1.4 billion each year. 
This Federal laboratory’s ultimate 
goal is a livestock population as nearly 
free as possible from disease. When 
diseases are banished, healthy cattle, 
hogs, poultry, sheep, and other livestock 
will supply the Nation with more food 
and fiber at lower cost. 
But diseases cannot be eliminated 
without knowledge. For this reason, the 
National Animal Disease Laboratory’s 
primary work is to conduct basic and ap- 
pled research on the infectious animal 
diseases prevalent in the United States. 
The laboratory’s built-in safety features 
permit the study of about 25 different 
animal diseases at the same time. 
About 20 percent of the center is used 
for regulatory activities. 
cludes setting standards 
This work in- 
and testing 
the NWational 
Animal Disease 
Laboratory 
veterinary biologics for safety and po- 
tency, and providing diagnostic services 
to support Federal eradication and con- 
trol programs. 
Both the research and regulatory activ- 
ities are conducted by USDA’s Agricul- 
tural Research Service (ARS). 
The $16.5 million Ames laboratory is 
one of the Department’s three principal 
research centers devoted to animal 
health. Others are the Plum Island 
(N.Y.) Animal Disease Laboratory, for 
the study of foot-and-mouth disease and 
other foreign diseases not now estab- 
United States; and the 
Parasitological Research Laboratory at 
Beltsville, Md., for the study of parasites 
that infest livestock. All three facilities 
are part of the ARS Animal Disease and 
Parasite Research Division (ADP). 
Two regulatory divisions of ARS also 
lished in the 
are associated in the day-to-day work of 
These are the 
Animal Inspection and Quarantine Di- 
the Ames laboratory. 
vision, which tests biologics; and the 
Division, 
ADP 
laboratory's 
Animal Disease’ Eradication 
which directs the diagnostic work. 
is responsible for the 
administration. 
