FREDERICK -- The state has approved a $1.3 million contract to build an animal health lab in Frederick to replace outmoded facilities for diagnosing diseases and disposing of the carcasses from 250 autopsies annually.
The Frederick lab is one of five animal health labs run by the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
The others are in College Park, Centreville, Salisbury and Oakland.
A total of $1.3 million in state government money, plus $568,000 from Frederick County, and smaller contributions from Carroll and Washington counties -- which expect to benefit from the facility -- will pay for the new lab, which is expected to be complete in March.