A year of progress: 2016

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health reflects on past year

Saint Paul, Minn - The Minnesota Board of Animal Health’s 2016 Annual Report revolves around themes of progress and protection. Focuses of the year include: a new executive director, a renovated Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory (MPTL), new leadership in partner agencies, the discovery of Senecavirus A in Minnesota swine, and recovery from 2015’s avian influenza outbreak.

“The staff at the Board work hard and are grateful for all cooperation and assistance we receive from our partners, who help protect Minnesota’s livestock,” said executive director, Dr. Beth Thompson. “Everything we do at the Board is in preparation for a disease event. This was a year of implementing new plans and procedures to ready ourselves and our partners for tomorrow.”

Thanks to the Minnesota Legislature and Governor Mark Dayton, the MPTL’s $8.5 million renovation finished on time and on budget in August. The MPTL is able to offer much more diagnostic testing and laboratory services to the state’s poultry producers. This strong partnership with the University of Minnesota exhibits the importance of working together to prevent and detect animal diseases.

Additionally, the Board worked with the swine industry to track and study Senecavirus A, which has clinical signs similar to a virulent foreign animal disease. Annual testing and inspections also continued for many more of Minnesota’s livestock species with some leading to disease investigations. These investigations help consumers and trade partners maintain confidence in the health of Minnesota’s livestock.

Read the Board of Animal Health’s full report here. You’ll discover budget details, annual testing and inspection results, and a letter from the new executive director.

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