WSDABIOSECURITYCHECKLISTFORLIVESTOCKEXHIBITORS

BeforeandDuringtheFair: Monitorvisitorstoyouranimalsandfarmespeciallyiftheyhavetraveledoutsidethecountrywithin thepastweek. Makesureallveterinaryhealthinspectionsandcertificatesofveterinaryinspectionarecurrentforall theanimalsyouwilltaketothefair. Recommendseparatebarnsforseparatespecies. Followthefairvaccinationguidelinesandgiverecommendedvaccinationsatleast10daysbeforethe event. Disinfectallequipment,suchasbuckets,shovels,wheelbarrows,manurebaskets,leadropes,blankets, snares,clippers,scissors,brushes,showbox,andsoforthbeforeenteringthefairgrounds. Dontshareequipmentwithotherexhibitorsunlessithasbeencleanedanddisinfectedbeforeand afteruse. Avoidenteringthepens/stallsandcomingincontactwithanimalsfromotherfarms.Contactthefair veterinarianorexhibitionmanagerwhenanimalsareinneedofattention.Ifyoumustcontactanimals fromdifferentpremises,properlywashyourhandsandthoroughlycleananddisinfectyourbootsand clothingbeforereturningtoyouranimals. Eliminatetrafficbetweenexhibitorsofdifferentspecies(especiallysheep/goatsandcattle).Ifitisnot possibletoeliminatethistraffic,changeclothinganddisinfecthandsbeforehandlingadifferent species. Asmuchaspossible,minimizefeedandwaterchangesfromhometofair. Keepunusedequipmentandfeedbaggedorcoveredtoreducetheriskofcontamination. Vehiclesandtrailersusedtotransportanimalstoandfromthefairshouldbewellcleanedand disinfected,insideandout,betweenuses. Donotmixspeciesinthesametrailer(especiallysheep/goatswithcattle).Avoidcommercialhaulers withmultipleanimalsfrommultiplefarms. Cleananddisinfectallitemsattheendofthefairbeforetakingthemhome. Properlydisposeofunusedbedding,hay,andfeedafterthefair.Donotbringithome. Minimizestressbykeepinganimalscool,wellbeddedandcomfortable. Carefullyconsiderwhetherexhibitionanimalsshouldreturnhomeafterthefair,andwhatriskthat presentstootheranimalsathome. Ifananimalbecomesillattheexhibit,consultaveterinarianandisolatetheanimal.

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AftertheFair: Thesafestwaytotransportyouranimalsisinyourownvehicle.Donothaulanimalsfromotherfarms. Keepfairanimalsisolatedfromotheranimalsandpetsforatleast30days. Checktheseisolatedanimalseverydayforanysignsofillness. Careforisolatedanimalsseparately,thenshower,changeyourclothes,andcleananddisinfectyour bootsbeforegoingtootherareasofthefarm. Thepersoncaringforanimalsatthefairshouldnotperformanimalrelatedchoresathome.Ifthe samepersonmustdoboth,choresathomeshouldbedonefirst.Donotwearthesameclothes,hats, andshoestocarefortheanimalsathomeandthefairanimals.Garmentsshouldbecleanedand disinfectedbetweeneachtriptothefairgroundsandbarn/pasture.(Itsalsoagoodideatoshower betweentrips.) Horsestakentothefairshouldbeisolatedfromlivestockandpetsforatleast30daysafterreturning tothefarm. Contactaveterinarianassoonasyouseeanyunusualsymptomsinanyanimal.Manydiseaseslook likeFMD;onlyaveterinariancantellforsure.

TheserecommendationswereprovidedwereprovidedbytheWashington State Department of Agriculture, adaptedfromtheIndianaDepartmentofAgricultureandappearedintheJanuary2009issueoftheKetchPen.

ReferenceSeibertD,FirkinsL,WallaceD,ErnstM.BioSecurityConsiderationsWhenExhibitingAnimals.UniversityofIllinois, UrbanaChampaignURL:http://www.livestocktrail.uiuc.edu/biosecurity/

TheseBioSecuritypracticesareagoodideanomatterwhatdiseasemightbeofconcern. ThegoalsaretokeepeveryanimalhealthyandtosafeguardtheWashingtonlivestockindustry. TOPFIVEDISEASEPREVENTIONRECOMMENDATIONS SegregationPreventcontactofyourlivestockwithother animals Restrictuseoffeed,equipment,andtrailerstoyour animalsanddisinfectafteruse Whathappensatthefairstaysatthefair.Thisincludes equipment(unlesscleanedanddisinfected),feedand bedding. Notifyaveterinarianimmediatelyifananimalbecomesill Isolateanimalsreturninghome

Washington State University Veterinary Medicine Extension P.O. Box 646610, Pullman WA 991616610 www.vetextension.wsu.eduVetExtension@vetmed.wsu.edu
WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local WSU Extension office. April 2009

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