Clemson Livestock Poultry Health has named Catherine Harris, DVM, as South Carolina’s new deputy state veterinarian, bringing to the role experience as both an animal agriculture regulator and a veterinarian working directly within the industry.
Harris joins Clemson from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, where she served as assistant state veterinarian and director of livestock animal health programs. In that role, she managed statewide programs involving infectious disease surveillance, emergency response, animal disease traceability and livestock movement regulations across multiple species.
Before entering state government, Harris spent a decade working in integrated swine production medicine with Smithfield Hog Production and Smithfield Premium Genetics, overseeing animal health programs for large commercial production systems as well as high-health genetic herds. She also spent three years in dairy-exclusive private practice in Texas and New Mexico.
That breadth of experience, Harris said, gives her an important perspective when working with producers and industry partners.
“Having been on that side of industry, and worked alongside producers and stakeholders, has allowed me to better understand the day-to-day workings and needs of our animal agricultural industries,” Harris said. “This knowledge and understanding facilitates my ability to provide better oversight and guidance, as well as develop relationships to work closely with producers and industries.”
Harris said her experience in the private sector and being subject to regulatory oversight has shaped how she approaches regulating animal health.
“It’s always good to have been on that side of things,” Harris said. “Then you can better explain regulatory requirements in terms and language that helps producers understand how we serve to protect their livelihoods, such as why we have movement restrictions, why we have quarantines and why we require certain types of testing and disease surveillance, for example.”
She said she has found that this perspective and experience has helped build trust with producers and allows us as regulators to work more effectively during disease investigations and emergency responses.
“Producers understand and appreciate that I am familiar with their industry, and that we, as regulatory animal health officials, are here to protect it,” Harris said. “That has allowed me to be very effective as a state animal health official in North Carolina, and I hope to bring that same sort of trust and industry relationship to South Carolina.”
Clemson Livestock Poultry Health serves as South Carolina’s animal health authority, state meat and poultry inspection department and veterinary diagnostic center. The organization protects animal health through disease surveillance and response programs while also helping ensure the safety of meat and poultry products for consumers.
Its work includes responding to endemic, foreign and emerging animal diseases; inspecting meat and poultry products; coordinating animal emergency response efforts; and supporting South Carolina’s livestock and poultry industries through diagnostic and regulatory services.
During her tenure in North Carolina, Harris held leadership roles in responses to highly pathogenic avian influenza, hurricane response, preparedness efforts for African swine fever, and equine infectious anemia management programs.
“Dr. Harris brings with her the exact type of experience needed to support our efforts to protect South Carolina livestock and poultry industries from current and future disease threats. Her industry experience gives her unique insight into the needs of producers and will help her create the kind of collaborative relationships needed to be proactive in our fight against animal diseases,” said Mike Neault, South Carolina State Veterinarian and Director of LPH.
Harris said success often depends on strong relationships with producers and industry groups.
“We place a lot of importance on developing relationships and effective communications with industry and producers,” she said.
Harris said she is eager to build relationships with Clemson Livestock Poultry Health staff, Extension personnel and agricultural stakeholders across the state.
Harris said the unit’s unique organizational structure, which includes its adjacency to Cooperative Extension, the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, and the Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine, was a major draw and provides opportunity for collaborations that will benefit the state’s animal agriculture industry.
“We’re going to have the ability to really develop programs and growth with Extension, and with the vet school, and with our industry partners that will better serve animal agriculture,” Harris said. “That’s all very exciting for me, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Harris earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from North Carolina State University in 2008, with a focus on food animals.
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