AMES (AP) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack was on hand Monday to dedicate the final component of the $464 million National Centers for Animal Health in Ames.

The center provides laboratories, offices and space for administration and animals, consolidating three USDA units that previously operated separately in Ames.

The three consolidated units are the National Animal Disease Center, the National Veterinary Services Laboratory and the Center for Veterinary Biologics.

The ceremony Monday took place in the atrium of the 500,000-square-foot Consolidated Laboratory and administrative facilities.

Vilsack was joined U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and U.S. Reps. Tom Latham and Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa.