NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, MARKETS & FOOD

Division of Animal Industry

25 Capitol Street 2nd Floor P.O. Box 2042

Concord, NH 03302-2042

 

TO: County Agents, 4-H Club Leaders, Fair Superintendents, Show Secretaries, Veterinarians And Exhibitors.

 

FROM: Dr. Clifford W. McGinnis, State Veterinarian

 

SUBJECT: Health Regulations for 2004 New Hampshire Fairs And Shows.

 

SEC. I. Certificate of Veterinary Inspection: All cattle, sheep, goats, swine, equine, camelids (llamas & alpacas), cervidae, poultry and ratites entering the State of New Hampshire from other states must be accompanied by a "Certificate of Veterinary Inspection" signed by an Accredited Veterinarian. This Certificate of Veterinary Inspection shall indicate the health status of the animals, poultry and other species involved, including results of any required tests, and must not be known to be infected with any infectious or contagious disease. A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, which has been issued for a New Hampshire fair/show, will remain in force for the entire 2004 show season.

 

SEC. II. Permanent Identification: All cattle, sheep, goats, swine, camelids, cervidae and ratites must be individually identified by permanent metal or plastic ear tag, legible tattoo or microchip (providing a reader is available).

 

SEC. III. Permit for Entry: Ratites, Camelids, Cervidae, Swine and/or Poultry: Prior permit must be obtained and the number must appear on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. Permits may be obtained by calling: (603) 271-2404 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am - 4:00 p.m.

 

A. CATTLE:

 

(1) New Hampshire Animals – See Sec. II, Permanent Identification required. All cattle must originate from nonquarantined Tuberculosis negative herds and from Brucellosis negative herds under state supervision and require no further papers.

 

(2) Out-of-State Animals - See Sec. I and II. Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and Permanent Identification required. All cattle originating from Tuberculosis accredited-free and Brucellosis classified-free states and Canadian provinces may enter the state of New Hampshire without testing. Cattle not originating from Tuberculosis accredited- free and Brucellosis classified-free states and Canadian provinces must meet the following requirements:

 

a. All cattle must originate from Tuberculosis negative and Brucellosis negative, non-quarantined herds and must have been tested within 30 days for Brucellosis and within 60 days to Tuberculosis prior to entry for the first show of the current season.

 

b. Cattle under 18 months of age which are official vaccinates may enter New Hampshire without a Brucellosis test, but the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection must show a record of such vaccination.

 

c. Calves under 179daysof age from Tuberculin negative herds under supervision tested within one year may enter the state without a test, if properly identified as progeny of a tuberculin tested dam.

 

B. STEERS, SPAYED HEIFERS & OXEN must meet the same requirements as stated above for Tuberculosis. No Brucellosis requirement.

 

IMPORT ANT: It shall be the responsibility of show superintendents to eject all animals showing indications of contagious disease.

 

C. GOATS:

 

(1) New Hampshire Animals - See Sec. II, Permanent Identification required. All goats must originate from nonquarantined herds and be clinically free from all other infectious and communicable diseases including lymphadenitis, staphylococcal infection, foot rot, contagious ecthyma (sore mouth), scabies or scrapie, nor be progeny of goats known to be infected with scrapie.

 

(2) Out-of-State Animals - See Sec. I and II. Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and Permanent Identification required. All goats originating from Tuberculosis accredited-free and Brucellosis classified-free states and Canadian provinces may enter the state of New Hampshire without testing. Goats not originating from Tuberculosisaccredited-freeandBrucellosisclassified-freestatesand Canadian provinces must meet the following requirements:

 

a. All goats 6 months of age or older must originate from non-quarantined, Tuberculosis negative and Brucellosis negative herds and must have been tested within 30 days for Brucellosis and within 60 days to Tuberculosis prior to entry for the first show of the current season.

 

b. All goats under 6months of age must be identified as progeny of a negative Brucellosis and Tuberculosis tested dam.

 

c. All goats must be clinically free from all other infectious and communicable diseases including lymphadenitis, staphylococcal infection, foot rot, contagious ecthyma (sore mouth), scabies or scrapie, nor be progeny of goats known to be infected with scrapie.

 

(3) Goats Enrolled in the Voluntary Scrapie Program - In order to lower the risk of scrapie transmission, goat herds that are enrolled in the scrapie eradication program should follow the following guidelines:

 

a. Be kept separate from non enrolled goats by a vacant pen, a barn alley, or a solid physical barrier (such as metal, wood, canvas) sufficient to prevent any physical contact between enrolled and nonenrolled goats.

 

b. Limit contacts in the show or sales ring to minimize risk of scrapie transmission. These contacts take place between animals off the herd's premises and not during or immediately after kidding. Limited contacts do not include commingling, which means the grouping of animals together with free physical contact.

 

c. Prevent contact with kidding animals at exhibits or sales. Kidding increases the exposure potential.

 

D. SWINE:

 

(1) New Hampshire Animals - See Sec. II, Permanent Identification required. All swine must originate from non-quarantined, Brucellosis and Pseudorabies Free herds and be clinically free from all other infectious and communicable diseases.

 

(2) Out-of-State Animals - See Sec. I, II and III, Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, Permanent Identification and Permit required. All swine shall be Brucellosis Validated or progeny of non-quarantined Brucellosis Validated herd or originate from a validated Brucellosis-free state. All swine shall have a Pseudo-rabies (PRV) negative test within 30 days of entry or originate from a Qualified Pseudorabies Negative herd or Pseudorabies class IV or free state.

 

E. SHEEP:

 

(1) New Hampshire Animals - See Sec. II, Permanent Identification required. All sheep must originate from a non-quarantined flock and animals must not have been exposed to scrapie, scabies or any other contagious or infectious disease, and are not the direct progeny (first generation) of any animal diagnosed as having scrapie.

 

(2) Out-of-State Animals - See Sec. I and II. Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and Permanent Identification required. All sheep must originate from an inspected, non-quarantined flock and the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection shall state that the animals have not been exposed to scrapie, scabies or any other contagious or infectious disease, and are not the progeny of a sire or dam that was infected with scrapie.

 

(3) Sheep Enrolled in the Voluntary Scrapie Program -In order to lower the risk of scrapie transmission, sheep flocks that are enrolled in the scrapie eradication program should follow the following guidelines:

 

a. Be kept separate from nonenrolled sheep by a vacant pen, a barn alley, or a solid physical barrier (such as metal, wood, canvas) sufficient to prevent any physical contact between enrolled and nonenrolled sheep.

 

b. Limit contacts in the show or sales ring to minimize risk of scrapie transmission. These contacts take place between animals off the flock's premises and not during or immediately after lambing. Limited contacts do not include commingling, which means the grouping of animals together with free physical contact.

 

c. Prevent contact with lambing animals at exhibits or sales. Lambing increases the exposure potential.

 

F. HORSES:

 

(1) New Hampshire Animals - Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) requirement at discretion of respective show secretaries.

 

(2) Out-of-State Animals - See Sec. 1. Certificate of Veterinary Inspection required. All equines entering the State of New Hampshire must be accompanied by a valid negative A.G.I.D. or Elisa (Coggins) test for Equine Infectious Anemia conducted within six months prior to entry. Entry permit not required.

 

NOTE: It is highly recommended that Show Management examine Equine Health Certificates and Coggins' test papers.

 

G. POULTRY:

 

(1) New Hampshire Poultry - All poultry over 5 months of age must have been tested within one year for, and found negative to Salmonella Pullorum, identified by official leg band and must be progeny of Pullorum clean stock and free of all infectious and contagious diseases and exposure thereto.

 

(2) Out-of-State Poultry - See Sec. I, II and III. Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or NPIP VS Form 9-3 and Permit required. All poultry over 5 months of age must have been tested within one year for, and found negative to Pullorum and be identified by official leg band. All poultry under 5months must be progeny of Pullorum clean stock and free of all infectious and contagious diseases and exposure thereto.

 

H. CERVIDAE, CAMELIDS AND BISON:

 

(1) New Hampshire Animals -All cervidae, camelids and bison must originate from non-quarantine herds.

 

(2) Out-of-State Animals - See Sec. I, II and III. Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, Permanent Identification and Permit required. Cervidae, camelids and bison must have a negative Brucellosis test within 30 days prior to the first show of the season and a negative Tuberculosis test within 60 days prior to the first show of the season.

 

NOTE: No cervids may enter the state of New Hampshire due to a permanent ban on importation, due to the threat of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

 

I. RATITE (emu, rhea, ostrich, moa, kiwi and cassowary):

 

(1) New Hampshire Animals -All ratites must originate from a non-quarantined, Avian Influenza tested negative flock.

 

(2) Out-of-State Animals - See Sec. I, II and III. Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, Permanent Identification and Permit required. All ratites must have been tested negative to pathological strains of Avian Influenza within 10days of the fair.

 

I. RABIES RECOMMENDATIONS: The State Veterinarian recommends that all domestic animals, i.e., dog, cats, horses, cattle, and sheep be immunized for rabies at least 30 days before attending the fairs. Domestic animals, i.e., rabbits, pigs, and goats that do not have a licensed rabies immunization available maybe immunized "extra-label". They can still receive the rabies shot, but it is not recognized as an immunized animal. It is highly recommended that all animals displayed at the fairs be restrained in a manner that would not allow the public to be bitten or exposed to saliva.

 

K. BIO-SECURITY:

 

When exhibiting animals at the fairs or shows bring your own shovels, forks, brooms and wheel barrows for your own use and do not allow them to be used by others. Disinfect all of the hand tools, including the wheel barrows, feed tubs and your boots and shoes before going back to the farm.

 

Do not allow the public to walk in the feed areas and do not allow manure contamination of the feed or feeding areas.

 

There are many diseases, such as Johnes, E. Coli, Salmonella, etc., that can be spread at fairs and brought back to the farm.  Prevent the spread of organisms.