Animal Health Division

Arkansas is a national leader in livestock production, ranking among the top states for chicken, eggs, turkey, beef, and pork. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture plays a vital role in supporting this success by protecting animal health, promoting animal welfare, and ensuring a safe and healthy livestock industry across the state.

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division works to protect both animal and human health by preventing, controlling, and responding to zoonotic and other communicable animal diseases that pose a risk to Arkansas’s livestock, poultry, and food supply.

The division is organized into three key components that work collaboratively to safeguard the state’s animal industries:

  • Animal Health
  • Food Safety
  • Regulatory Compliance

Each component includes multiple sections that contribute to the division’s mission of protecting animal agriculture and public health across the state.

Contact Us

State Veterinarian
Andrew Fidler, (501) 297-2250

Field Services Division Manager
Blake Walters, (501) 519-0725

Poultry and Egg Division Manager
Cheri Ellis, (501) 823-1745

Programs and Services

Cattle

Upcoming Events

  • Catfish Promotion Board Meeting

    The Catfish Promotion Board will meet on June 16, 2026 at 1:30p.m. in Little Rock, AR. Additional meeting information will be provided as it becomes available.

  • Arkansas Beef Council Meeting

    The Arkansas Beef Council will meet on August 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in Fort Smith, AR. Additional meeting information will be provided as it becomes available.

  • Arkansas Board of Animal Health Meeting

    Arkansas Board of Animal Health Meeting The Arkansas Board of Animal Health will meet on Friday, August 7, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Fort Smith Convention Center. More information […]

  • Arkansas Board of Animal Health Meeting

    Arkansas Board of Animal Health Meeting The Arkansas Board of Animal Health will meet on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Arkansas State Fair Grounds 2600 Howard […]

  • Arkansas Beef Council Meeting

    The Arkansas Beef Council will meet on December 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, 1 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR. Additional meeting information will […]

Public Notices