Livestock Health Regulations
2010 Fair and Show Requirements
The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA), Animal Health Section strives in Safeguarding Maryland’s animal industries at our Fairs and Shows. With an increased potential of disease transmission occurring when large numbers of animals gather for exhibition, MDA has set forth requirements for exhibitors to follow at Maryland Fairs and Shows. As an exhibitor you can help reduce the potential risk of introduction and spread of infectious and/or contagious diseases by following the species specific health requirements as specified below.
General Requirements
Exhibitors shall ensure that the animals they present at fairs/shows are in good health. Any animals showing signs of contagious or infectious disease are not permitted to enter or remain at the exhibition. All exhibitors must adhere to the MDA Animal Health Rejection Policy.
Self Certification is required for all species. The Self Certification documents shall be filled out by the owner/authorized caretaker/transporter prior to loading and presented upon request to the designated fair/show representative(s) or MDA Animal Health Official.
1. All Maryland entries must be accompanied by an approved Intrastate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) for show; except Equine, Poultry and Rabbits.
2. All out-of-state entries must be accompanied by an interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. An APPROVED copy of the certificate must be forwarded by the State of Origin to the Animal Health Section. The interstate (CVI) is valid for 30 days from the date of inspection.
3. Each animal must be properly identified on the intrastate or interstate CVI.
4. All animals will be inspected for general health upon arrival. Those showing clinical signs of ANY contagious or infectious disease must be removed from the show or fair. In such cases, the health certificate may be modified, suspended or revoked.
5. The CVI for Maryland exhibitors must be filled out, completed and signed by an accredited veterinarian within 60 days of the first exhibition. The exhibitor should have the completed CVI form approved and stamped by the Animal Health headquarters office or an MDA Regional Diagnostic Laboratory. Record the date of the first event you expect to attend on the form.
6. The approved intrastate CVI is valid for the entire show season, providing that the status of the herd or animal(s) does not change.
7. Where immunization is recommended or required it must be done in conformity with standard procedures and practices consistent with the development of immunity PRIOR to the show or fair.
Livestock Exhibitors
1. All livestock for exhibition shall 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 CVI form. It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to have the completed CVI form approved and stamped by the regional MDA Animal Health office prior to the date of the first exhibition. The form must include the date of the first event to be attended. The MDA intrastate CVI is valid for the entire show season.
2. All Out-of-State livestock for exhibition in Maryland shall meet MDA Animal Health import requirements for the appropriate species and any additional Maryland exhibitor requirements. Obtain an Interstate CVI from an accredited veterinarian. The interstate CVI in valid for 30 days from the date of inspection.
3. Livestock Exhibitor’s Self Certification of Animal Health will be filled out by the owner/authorized caretaker/transporter prior to loading and will be presented upon request to the designated fair/show representative(s) or MDA Animal Health Official at each show attended.
Cattle, Goats and Camelids
1. In addition to general requirements above, all cattle must be individually identified by eartag, tattoo, or registration number.
2. All goats, regardless of age or sex must be from flocks registered in the scrapie control program and so identified by a) USDA approved tags, b) a legible registration tattoo, or c) an approved premise tattoo, before going to a fair or show.
a. 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.
b. 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.
c. IMMUNIZATION—Cattle; Bovine Respiratory Complex to include: Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Bovine viral Diarrhea, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis, and Parainfluenza - Required
Leptospirosis - Recommended
Swine
1. In addition to General requirements above, all swine must be individually identified by eartag, tattoo, or registration number.
a. IMMUNIZATION—Leptospirosis – Recommended
Sheep
1. All sheep, regardless of age or sex, must be from flocks registered in the scrapie control program and so identified by a) USDA approved tags, b) a legible registration tattoo, or c) an approved premise tattoo, before going to a Maryland fair or show.
2. 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.
Equine Exhibitors
1. All equine for exhibition shall be accompanied by a valid Coggins Test (within 12 months).
2. Equine Exhibitor’s Self Certification of Animal Health is required for each equine entering a fair/show-type event where multiple livestock species are present. The form must be available for inspection if requested. Those participating in equine-only shows and events are exempt from this requirement; however, it is good practice to thoroughly double check the health and skin condition of the animal before departing for the event. The form provides an easy checklist to do this. Exhibitors may not bring an animal having apparent or known signs of a contagious or infectious disease to a show.
Poultry Exhibitors
1. All poultry exhibitors must have valid proof of a registered Maryland Poultry Premises ID Number.
2. All exhibitors must show proof that poultry (pigeons 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 tube agglutination test, the micro agglutination 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.
3. 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). Samples 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.
4. All poultry exhibitors shall complete a Poultry Exhibitor’s Self Certification of Animal Health.
Rabbit Exhibitors
1. All Rabbits for exhibition shall complete a Rabbit Exhibitor’s Self Certification of Animal Health.
Questions
If you have any questions or are unsure of any of these animal health requirements for Maryland fairs and shows, please contact your MDA Regional Health Offices during normal business hours.
*Maryland Law provides penalties for violations of Animal Health Law and Regulations.
*Livestock failing to meet Health Requirements will be denied entry or removed from the exhibition.
MDA Headquarters: 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410)-841-5810
Frederick Animal Health Lab: 1840 Rosemont Ave., Frederick, MD 21702 (301)-600-1548
Salisbury Animal Health Lab: 27722 Nanticoke Rd., Salisbury, MD 21801 (410)-543-6610