Preface

This Yearbook should be of great value to livestock and pet owners, serving as a handy guide for their animals' health. Americans spent $4.6 billion in 1982-83 for veterinary services, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Expenditures for dogs, cats, other household pets, and horses accounted for 82 percent of that amount. In these categories dogs and cats had the biggest share.

Outlays for agricultural animal veterinary services totaled 18 percent, with the largest amounts going to cattle and poultry.

These figures reflect the deep concerns of owners for the health of their animals. Sharing those concerns are U.S. Department of Agriculture and other Federal agencies, land-grant universities and colleges, and other organizations both State and private. Wide-scale cooperation in the 1984 Yearbook of Agriculture came from all areas of concern.

Deep appreciation is expressed to the Committee that planned the book, and contributed much time and great expertise. The Committee consisted of:

Chairman—Norvan L. Meyer, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

David Batson, Food and Drug Administration

Irving Cashell, former veterinary practitioner

Dixon Hubbard, Extension Service

Jack Hyde, Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

Charles A. Kiddy, ARS

Dyarl King, ARS

Larry D. Mark, APHIS

Edward L. Menning, National Association of Federal Veterinarians

H. Graham Purchase, ARS

Dale Schwindaman, APHIS

Floyd Smith, APHIS

Jim A. Stunkard, Director, Bowie Animal Hospital

Marty Vanier, Animal Health Institute

Photo Coordinator—Marie T. Sebrechts, APHIS

Jack Hayes

Yearbook Editor