American Society of Animal Science
Publisher of the Journal of Animal Science
http://www.asas.org
August 5, 2014
President
Dr. Debra K. Aaron
University of Kentucky
daaron@uky.edu
President-Elect
Dr. Michael Looper
University of Arkansas
looper@uark.edu
Past President
Dr. Gregory P. Lardy
North Dakota State University
gregory.lardy@ndsu.edu
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Meghan C. Wulster-Radcliffe
meghanwr@asas.org
Chief Operations Officer
Mrs. Jacelyn M. Hemmelgarn
jacelynh@asas.org
Editor-in-Chief
Dr. Greg S. Lewis
glewis@asas.org
Foundation Trustee Chair
Dr. Todd Armstrong
Elanco Animal Health
armstrong_todd_a@elanco.com
Program Chair
Dr. Shawn Archibeque
Colorado State University
shawn.archibeque@colostate.edu
Recording Secretary
Dr. Phillip Miller
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
pmiller1@unl.edu
Section Directors
Dr. Thomas Hoagland (16)
Dr. Phillip Miller (17)
Dr. Russ Muntifering (16)
Dr. Jack Whittier (16)
At-Large Directors
Dr. Shawn Archibeque (16)
Dr. Mark Petersen (17)
Dr. William Flowers (15)
Dr. Chantal Farmer (17)
Dr. Dean Hawkins (15)
Dr. Teresa Davis (17)
Dr. Connie Larson (16)
Dr. Elisabeth Lonergan (16)
Dr. Linda Martin (15)
Graduate Directors
Kyle McLean(16)
William Brandon Smith (15)
ASAS Representative to FASS
Mr. Jerry Weigel
geraldweigel49@yahoo.com
Financial Advisor
Dr. Thomas Hoagland
University of Connecticut
thomas.hoagland@uconn.edu
Open Letter to USDA-ARS Concerning USSES
From: American Society of Animal Science Board of Directors
The American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Board of Directors (BOD) is
writing with respect to the future of the USDA Sheep Experiment Station in
Dubois, ID. The USSES has a rich history of important contributions to the
industry not only in the United States, but globally. These contributions
obviously include activities and efforts related to research. However the
contributions and importance also extend to education and outreach efforts.
USSES has been integral in the advancement of both applied and basic science
geared towards dissemination and use in animal agriculture. In addition, to
being a vital research unit, the USSES has served as a needed training ground
for animal scientists and veterinarians. The sheep industry remains a vital part
of production agriculture throughout much of the western United States and
serves as a vital economic unit in many rural communities in this region.
Closing this unit and or directing funds from this unit away from animal
agriculture would result in immeasurable losses to the sheep industry, animal
agriculture, and animal science.
The research, extension, and educational prolificacy of the USSES is directly
related to the unique nature of the station. USSES is one of the few units left
in the US with a critical mass of scientists, adequate land, diversity of land,
animal numbers and a production environment to produce meaningful results
related to issues within animal agriculture and particularly in terms of sheep
production. The overriding example of research that depends on the
coalescence within this facility are lifetime accomplishments in genetics.
Genetics accomplishments range from economically important breed creation
to genetic determination of disease transmission in economically and
biologically relevant diseases.
The scientific contributions and applications to applied sheep production since
creation are too numerous to list; however, it is important to list some of the
most influential:
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Development of the Columbia, Targhee, and Polypay sheep breeds Nationwide meat-­‐sire evaluation programs Nationwide wool-­‐sire evaluation programs Determining Q-­‐Fever genetic markers in sheep Describing and identifying bighorn sheep pneumonia-­‐associated pathogens that are shed from domestic sheep to enable identification of genetic markers associated with “nonshedding” domestic sheep. Work to eradicate scrapie in the US A nimals, S cience, A nd S ervice
2014 Annual Meeting: July 20-24, Kansas City, Kansas
Work to eradicate OPP In addition, work that can only be accomplished at the USSES is highlighted in the current USDA
Strategic Plan. Closing the USSES or diverting funds from this unit away from animal
agriculture would create a research, education, and outreach void that we could not fill in the next
25 years.
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The American Society of Animal Science Board of Directors* respectfully recommends that
the US Sheep Experiment Station remains open, fully funded, and continuing to operate in a
manner that best serves the sheep industry and all of animal agriculture.
On behalf of the ASAS BOD,
Debra Aaron
ASAS President
*Please note, several members of the ASAS BOD are employees of USDA. To avoid conflict of
interest issues, they were excluded from discussion, preparation, and review of this statement and
request.