Commentary
Iowa is a top U.S. producer of red meat and eggs. The information here is likely representative of many livestock producers in the U.S. For veterinary teams and animal health pros serving owners of any herd or flock size, the research results are informative, concerning and actionable. We must dedicate ourselves to improving producer education on diseases and risk management.
Research drawn from the 2024 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll sought to understand livestock producers’ perspectives and attitudes relating to livestock disease and disease management. The results show considerable variances about certain diseases and suggest that close to half of livestock producers lack confidence and capacity to effectively manage disease.
Source: National Hog Farmer, April 15, 2025. Link.
The lack of concern about some major diseases and level of uncertainty about management capacity point to a need for ongoing education and support to help farmers effectively manage livestock disease.” – J. Gordon Arbuckle Jr., PhD