2009 Livestock Health Regulations

Animal Health exhibition requirements are established to safeguard Maryland's animal industries at fairs and shows. There is an increased potential of disease transmission when large numbers of animals gather for an exhibition.  Exhibitors help reduce the potential risk of introduction and spread of infectious or contagious disease at exhibition by having their animals examined by their veterinarian prior to the show season, obtaining a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and subsequently conducting a "Livestock Exhibitor's Self-Certification Exam of Animal Health" on show animals prior to each fair and show attended.

Requirements for Exhibitors

The Maryland Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Section requires exhibitors of livestock to follow regulations set forth by the Secretary of Agriculture and the State Veterinarian to safeguard the spread of infectious and contagious disease of livestock during a fair or show (COMAR 15.11.14).

Maryland Livestock Exhibitors:

 1.  All livestock for exhibition, except horses, rabbits and poultry, must be inspected by an accredited veterinarian within 60 days of the first exhibition.  It is the veterinarian’s responsibility to have knowledge of the current animal health requirements prior to inspection of animals and completion of the current MDA Intrastate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) form.  It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to have the completed CVI form approved and stamped by the regional MDA Animal Health Offices prior to the date of first exhibition.  The form must include the date of first event to be attended.  The MDA CVI is valid only for the current show season.  The CVI can be obtained at any of the regional MDA Animal Health Offices or downloaded by clicking on the link below.
                                                                                                                          

2.  All livestock exhibitors, except horses, rabbits and poultry, must fill out a “Livestock Exhibitor’s Self-Certification of Animal Healthâ€� form prior to loading animals and shall present it upon request to the designated fair or show representative at each show attended.  This form shall be filled out by the owner/caretaker of the animals after completion of inspection and prior to loading of animals.  This form is located on the back of the CVI or downloaded by clicking on the link below.

Certification of Veterinary Inspection and the Self Certification forms

3.  Exhibitors must adhere to the MDA Animal Health Rejection Policy.  The certificate of veterinary inspection and the self certification forms forms shall remain on location accompanying the animals during the exhibition.  Animal rejections for health reasons only can be made by MDA Animal Health Vererinarians or field inspectors, private Veterinarians contracted by the show, or by extension and fair personnel (superintendents).  Suspicion of communicble disease us adequate grounds for rejection.  Confirmed diagnosis is not required , since tmely removal of suspicious animals is required by law to protect the remaining animals.  If it is believed that there is a potentially serious disease present, all animals originating with the suspect animal may be rejected.  Vesicular diseases are of particular concern.  All decisions are final.  All parties involved will be notified of all rejections and the exhibitor is responsible for removal of the animal(s) from the grounds immediately.

Maryland Law states thata person may not knowingly expose livestock to an animal with a contagious or infectious disease, or expose a healthy animal to a contagious or infectious diseae in violation of MD AGRIC. CODE 3-110.

HORSES
In addition to general requirements above all horses must be accompanied by the record of a negative Equine Infectious Anemia test within the last 12 months.

CATTLE, GOATS, AND CAMELIDS
In addition to general requirements above, all cattle must be individually identified by eartag, tattoo, or registration number.  All goats, regardless of age or sex must be from flocks registered in the scrapie control program andso identified by a) USDA approved tags, b) a legible registration tattoo, or c) an approved premise tattoo, before going to a fair or show.

TUBERCULOSIS -  Cattle, goats, and camelids originating in Maryland from herds not under quarantine or restriction are not required to be tested for tuberculosis for shows in Maryland.

BRUCELLOSIS - Cattle, goats, and camelids originating in Maryland from herds not under quarantine or restriction are not required to be tested for brucellosis for shows in Maryland.

IMMUNIZATION – Cattle – Bovine Respiratory Complex to include: Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Bovine viral Diarrhea, Infections Bovine Rhinotrachetis, and Parainfluenza – Required Leptospirosis – Recommended

SWINE  - In addition to General requirements above, all swine must be individually identified by eartag, tattoo, or registration number.

SHEEP - All sheep, regardless of age or sex, must be from flocks reqistered in the scrapie control program and so identified by a) USDA approved tags, b) a legible registration tattoo, c) an approved premise tattoo, before going to a Maryland fair or show.  In addition to the general requirements for individual sheep, the entire flock must be inspected for the presence of contagious or infectious diseases by an accredited veterinarian.  All market lambs to be slick shorn before arrival at fairgrounds.

RABBITS - All rabbit exhibitors must fill out a Self Certification of Rabbit Health prior to loading animals and shall be presented upon request to the designated fair and show representative at each show attended.

2009 Maryland Poultry Exhibition Requirements

Maryland Exhibitors:

1.  Obtain a Maryland Poultry Premises Registration number.  
Information concerning that registration is available on the MDA website at http://www.mda.state.md.us/animal_health/poultryreg/index.php

2.  Valid copy of Avian Influenza test.

3.  Valid copy of Pullorum-Typhoid test.

4.  Vaccinated birds and their commingled flock members may not be exhibited, sold, marketed or otherwise brought in contact with other birds for 30 days following the last vaccination.

5.   All poultry exhibitors must fill out a Self Certification of Poultry Health prior to loading animals and shall present it upon request to the designated fair and show representative.  A new Self-Certification of Poultry Health must be completed for each additional show attended.  All poultry entries must be individually tagged.

Pullorum-Typhoid: All exhibitors must show proof that poultry (pigeon and waterfowl excluded) originated from a pullorum-typhoid free flock or have all individual poultry entries tested negative for pullorum-typhoid not more than 90 days before the exhibition. Blood samples for official tests shall be drawn by an authorized agent, authorized testing agent or state inspector and tested by an authorized state or federally recognized laboratory.  Official test for pullorum-typhoid shall be the standard test tube agglutination test, the microagglutination test, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA test, and the stained antigen rapid whole-blood test.  Proof is to be documented on MDA-E20, VS Form 9-2, VS Form 9-3 or comparable form. Testing must be completed before arrival at exhibition.

Avian Influenza:  All poultry (pigeons excluded) must originate from a flock that is a participant in the Maryland Avian Influenza-Monitored Flock Program or the exhibitor must have a minimum of 10 birds (or the complete flock if fewer than 10), randomly tested negative for avian influenza by an official test.  Official tests for avian influenza are the agar gel immunodifusion (AGID), the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).  Sample must be tested by an authorized state or federally recognized laboratory.   For waterfowl, cloacal swab samples must be collected for testing.  The samples should only be collected by MDA Animal Health staff, an accredited veterinarian or a state-certified poultry technician. Negative Avian Influenza test results reported on the MDA Avian Influenza Testing Report will be effective for 90 days from the date of issuance. A flock wherein at least 30 birds or complete flock tested negative for AI will qualify to register as a MD Avian Influenza-Monitored flock and will need to be retested every 90 days to maintain that status, provided no untested poultry was commingled during that period. All poultry entries shall be accompanied by the MDA AI Test Report Form MDA 12-06-08, MDA-E20 or USDA VS Form 9-3.