NAHMS Swine 2021 Small Enterprise Study
From May 2021 through July 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), in collaboration with the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), will conduct its third national study of U.S. small enterprise swine operations.
The study will take an in-depth look at small enterprise swine operations (fewer than 1,000 pigs) and provide new information regarding animal health and management practices used on these operations, as well as the alternative marketing strategies they implement.
Approximately 5,000 swine operations from 38 States will be asked to participate in the study. These States account for about 95 percent of U.S. swine operations with fewer than 1,000 pigs.
Small enterprise swine production is a growing sector of the U.S. swine industry due to its role as a primary supplier of many niche-market products. Small enterprise swine production in the United States is very diverse, which creates unique information needs for the industry.
Study Objectives
The focus of this study is to characterize the opportunities, risks and health challenges faced by small enterprise swine producers. Data on health and management practices will be compared with similar data collected in 2007 and 2012, which will provide a picture of trends in U.S. swine production on small enterprise operations.
Study objectives include the following:
▪ Describe current health and production practices on small enterprise operations.
▪ Describe trends in swine health and disease management practices on small enterprise swine operations.
▪ Characterize movement, mortality, and slaughter channels on small enterprise swine operations.
▪ Examine differences in marketing practices and movements on small and large U.S. swine operations.
As with all NAHMS studies, participating in the Swine 2021 Small Enterprise study is voluntary.
In May 2021, selected producers will be mailed a letter describing the study and be provided with a questionnaire to be completed and returned either by mail or web. Selected producers that don’t respond will be called by a NASS representative to arrange a convenient time to complete the questionnaire via telephone interview.
Benefits to Participating
If you are selected to participate in this important study and choose to do so, the confidential information you provide will benefit the U.S. swine industry by
▪ Providing transparent, credible information on industry practices that will help counter misinformation;
▪ Benchmarking current production practices;
▪ Assisting the U.S. swine industry to understand disease preparedness strengths and vulnerabilities;
▪ Helping policymakers and industry stakeholders make science-based decisions;
▪ Providing data that will be used by academia, pharmaceutical researchers,
and private enterprises to identify and focus on vital issues related to swine health and productivity on small enterprises; and
▪ Identifying educational needs related to health and production on small enterprise operations.
Scientific Approach
NAHMS was established to collect accurate and valuable information on animal health and management in the United States. NAHMS studies are national in scope, science based, statistically valid, collaborative, voluntary, and anonymous.
Confidentiality
Because NAHMS studies rely on voluntary participation, the privacy of every participant is protected. Only those collecting study data know the identity of respondents. No name or contact information will ever be associated with individual data, and no data will ever be reported in a way that could reveal the identity of a participant. Data are presented only in an aggregate or summary manner.
For More Information
USDA–APHIS–VS–CEAH NRRC Building B, M.S. 2E7 2150 Centre Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80526-8117 Phone: 970.494.7216
Email: NAHMS@usda.gov
Or visit NAHMS at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/nahms