Below are updates regarding health requirements for poultry and animal identification requirements for cattle and swine for the 2019 fair season.
Pullorum Testing for Poultry
Pullorum disease is an infectious poultry disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella pullorum. The disease affects mainly young birds, but can also affect older chickens, game birds, guinea fowl, and turkeys.
When showing at your local fair, poultry (with the exception of doves, pigeons and waterfowl) must be accompanied by: Results of a negative Pullorum Typhoid test conducted within 90 days prior to exhibition, or proof that the birds originated directly from a US Pullorum-Typhoid clean flock or equivalent flock (must be within 2 years of exhibition).
However, due to a nationwide shortage of pullorum antigen, this year, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is waiving the pullorum test requirement. More Information can be found on the New York State Department of Agriculture’s website: https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AI/AIHome.html.
Please make sure you are aware of clinical signs: anorexia, diarrhea, high fever, decreased egg production or poor hatchability, and death.
Animal Identification for Cattle and Swine
At the beginning of this year NY Ag & Markets announced that all cattle and swine must be identified by an official USDA radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tag, commonly referred to as an “840 RFID tag,” or an equivalent official RFID tag if the animal was tagged in another country. Cattle and swine which are already identified by the 840 visual ear tag prior to this year will be exempt from the 840 RFID tag requirement.
However, due to a higher than expected demand for the free 840 RFID tags, NY Ag and Markets will no longer be able to fulfill orders. Please note that due to this and other concerns the Department of Agriculture and Markets will be delaying the requirement for the 840 RFID tags until the 2020 fair season. For the 2019 Fair Season, cattle and swine exhibitors for all New York county and state fairs may use the same types of official ID as were accepted in 2018. For more information on this update and acceptable tags, check out the NY Ag and Markets website: https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AI/Update%20No%20More%20840RFID%20Tags.pdf
Please know that all other standing health requirements are still in place. This includes immunization for Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) and other common repertory diseases for cattle, Scrapie for sheep and goats, and Rabies for dog.
If you would like to see the complete documents on Fair Animal Health Requirements, Fair Interstate Health Requirements, and Exhibitor Pre-fair Guidelines for all species, follow the corresponding link on the Division of Animal Industry page of the Agriculture and Markets website: https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AI/AIHome.html
If you have any questions, please contact your local extension office or myself at 518-272-4210 or kls342@cornell.edu
