Veterinary Statistics

a field of social statistics that is primarily devoted to the state of health of domestic animals; the illness and mortality rates of cattle, poultry, and other animals; data from the inspection of meat, milk, and other food products of animal origin; and the results of the work of various veterinary institutions and of veterinary specialists at kolkhozes, sovkhozes, and other organizations.

The state of health of animals is determined by analyzing data from the Central Statistical Board of the USSR on the population, reproduction, and loss of animals as a whole and by species (including poultry, furbearers, fish, and bees), by age group, and by national economic sector. Data obtained from records and reports on animal illnesses and death are also used. The incidence of illness and mortality is studied by using data on various groups of infectious, parasitic, and noncontagious diseases and data on individual illnesses related to different natural-climatic, geographic, and economic factors.

In veterinary science statistical data are used to develop measures for the prevention and elimination of the diseases that cause the greatest losses to animal husbandry or present danger to the human population. Forecasting the movement of epizootics based on an analysis and generalization of past data is very important.