Program D: Office of Animal Health Services

Program Authorization: R.S. 36:628(E)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Office of Animal Health Services Program is to protect the public supply of meat and meat products, eggs, fish and fish products, fresh produce and grains; control and eradicate infectious diseases of animals and poultry; and ensure the quality and condition of fresh produce and grain commodities. The program also works to control and eradicate infectious diseases of animals. The goal of this program is to maintain a safe and healthful food supply for the people of Louisiana, while simultaneously protecting and safeguarding the producers of these products. The program inspects and grades food products, controls livestock diseases and tracks ownership of livestock through a branding activity. The activities of this program are: Administrative, Federal/State Meat Program, Poultry and Egg Inspection, Fruits and Vegetables Inspection, Livestock Disease Prevention, and Livestock Theft Prevention.

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

1. The Animal Health Services Program will reduce the percentage of eggs in commerce that are not fit for human consumption from 1% to .5% in FY 1998-99.

2. The Animal Health Services Program will increase the accuracy of labeling of fruits and vegetables from 98% to 99% and ensure inspections by collaborates agree with Department inspectors between 97% and 98% during FY 1998-99.

3. The Animal Health Services Program will sustain state grading and certification for schools and institutions during FY 1998-99.

4. The Animal Health Services Program will ensure that meat is properly graded during FY 1998-99.

5. The Animal Health Services Program will increase the number of solved theft cases to 60% and ensure that the conviction rate will be maintained at 100% in FY 1998-99.

6. The Animal Health Services Program will reduce nuisance control problems by increasing the demand for beaver meat as food, increasing the number of coyotes and beavers captured to 3,225, and by reducing the damage caused by beavers by 15% in FY 1998-99

7. The Animal Health Services Program will ensure that the number of livestock diseases reported remains below 6,000 in FY 1998-99.

RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM

SOURCE OF FUNDING

This program is funded with state general fund, fees and self-generated revenues, and federal funds. The fees and self-generated revenues are generated from: (1) grading fees assessed on meat, meat products, fish and fish products; (2) a fee of $2.00/calfhood vaccination at auction markets; and (3) a fee of $250 for application of a charter. Federal funds are the result of: (1) Federally funded Livestock Sanitary Board Program; (2) reimbursement from the USDA for grading and certification of meat and meat products; and (3) reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Commerce for certification of fish and fish products.

ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION

The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 98.3% of the existing operating budget. It represents 88.6% of the total request ($11,010,625) for this program. The decreased general fund is due to the retirement rate decrease, the removal of funding for nonrecurring acquisitions and a means of financing substitution. The decrease in the total means of financing is primarily due to the removal of federal funds for brucellosis.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

OTHER CHARGES

ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS