The main areas of research in animal health and veterinary public health are determined by the need for research as defined in the Swiss Animal Health Strategy 2010+ and the Animal project within the Strategy for Antibiotic Resistance (StAR). The focus here is on animal diseases and zoonoses that are being fought internationally and on economically relevant diseases of infectious origin. In addition, newly emerging and recurrent animal diseases are increasingly coming to the fore as a result of climate change, greater migration and increasing global travel and commerce.

The FSVO and the cantons together monitor the occurrence of animal diseases and zoonoses. Every year livestock are sampled and examined for the presence of several diseases. The intention is to ensure that food is safe, to promote human and animal health and to create optimum conditions for international trade.