4.What were the most significant accomplishments this past year?
This report serves to document research conducted under a specific cooperative agreement between ARS and the Regional Government of the Azores¿ (RGA) Veterinary Service. Dairy production in the Azores represents one of the largest sectors of the economy, and thus, deserves attention in order to continue increased production trends and expansion of markets for Azorean dairy products, as called for under the 1995 Agreement on Cooperation and Defense between the United States and Portugal. The USDA, the RGA¿s veterinary service and University of Azores have begun work towards mitigating and improving problems in the Azorean dairy production system through a program that will establish a health monitoring system of the herd, extension programs for farmers on dairy and human health issues related to milk production and a common research agenda in bovine genomics related to disease resistance. The establishment of the dairy health monitoring system for the Azores is on schedule. Stakeholders participated in a questionnaire interview to identify the main sanitary concerns for improvement of dairy production in the region. Preliminary analysis of the questionnaires has been completed.