USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) reported Wednesday an investment of over $13 million in research on therapies and prevention strategies for livestock diseases. NIFA announced a total of 24 grants as part of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s (AFRI) Diseases of Agricultural Animals program. The grants will support projects at 17 universities focusing on disease prevention, vaccine development and management strategies to maintain livestock health.

Livestock diseases cost the agriculture industry billions each year worldwide and the agency says the goal of the grants is to spur discoveries that enhance production efficiency while improving overall animal health and welfare.

Read more on the livestock disease prevention grants and details of grant recipients here.