Animal Health Commission

The Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission (AHDC) was created by Act 148 of 1988 to be a departmental administrative commission.

The Legislative findings and intent of this act were:

1. Veterinary diagnostic support is the linchpin of any network of veterinary epidemic intelligence and vital to the maintenance and well-being of a modern animal industry.  Many diseases have potentially serious consequences for animal and human health.
2. Much of the research work that is done on animal diseases has a correlating effect on human disease research.
3. The General Assembly has determined there is a need to facilitate an integrated approach to the diagnosis and investigation of disease in farm animals.  The avian flu virus brought to the General Assembly's attention that there is not a laboratory in Pennsylvania that can deal with this type of virus, and Pennsylvania poultry producers had to send all samples to Ames, Iowa.
4. The General Assembly believes it is important that there be diagnostic capabilities in Pennsylvania since the state is one of the top animal-producing states in the country, specifically in the poultry and dairy sectors.
5. There is no doubt that the research laboratories at The Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pennsylvania teaching facilities are of utmost importance since they correlate to the medical facilities at both of these universities.  To facilitate this program, it is important that each diagnostic laboratory be linked together via the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS) to facilitate an integrated approach to the diagnosis and investigation of disease in farm animals.
6. It is also the intent of the General Assembly to provide resources and a cadre of specialists to allow planned interventions in disease outbreaks rather than crisis interventions.  A predictable funding basis is the only manner in which to achieve these necessary laboratory research and diagnostic capabilities.  The Act included the creation of commission members to include:
   

Three (3) accredited veterinarians appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of a majority of the members elected to the Senate.  The accredited veterinarians on the Commission include:

1. Dr. Jennifer Kauf of Dairyside Veterinary Services who specializes in reproduction and ultrasound techniques, obstetrical surgery, and calf health. 
2. Dr. James Holt is a governance, One Health, equine, and camelid liaison.  Dr. Holt practices traditional agricultural veterinary medicine and studies current economic trends in the equine industry. 
3. Dr. Meghann Pierdon, Chair of the Research Committee and a liaison to the state's swine industry, is trained in traditional agricultural veterinary medicine and stays abreast of current trends in the swine industry.

The Act also states that six (6) active farmers appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of a majority of the members elected to the Senate shall sit on the AHDC.  In appointing farm members, the Act charged the Governor to consider nominees suggested by statewide farm organizations, the poultry industry and equine and livestock breeding organizations. Presently the active farmer members include:

1. James Shirk
2. Glenn Stoltzfus
3. Ashley Hoover
4. Richard Shiffler
5. Chris Hoffman
6. Amanda Butterfield