Kalamazoo County Youth Fair Animal Health Plan 2018 1. Animal Health Committee The animal health committee develops a plan for dealing with animal health protocols and potential disease outbreaks. They also work directly with the designated Fair vet to make any decisions on animal health/safety throughout the duration of Fair. Animal Health Committee Members a. Fair Staff I. Josh Gower, Fair Coordinator b. MSU Extension I. Veronica Bolhuis, 4-H Program Coordinator c. 4-H LSA I. Kevin Rose, Livestock Association President d. Fair Council I. Jackie Stasevich, LSA Representative 2. Rules a. All animal entries must meet the 2018 Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development exhibition requirements including proper identification of animals. All animals must be free from any contagious, infectious, or communicable diseases. b. If an exhibitor chooses to sell at auction (Grand and Reserve Champions must sell at the Livestock Auction sale) the animal becomes the property of the buyer at the time of load out. The exhibitor is responsible for the care of the animal until it is removed from the fairgrounds and is responsible for any and all costs incurred by their animals during this period. c. If an animal becomes ill and dies after the auction but before it has been harvested, the exhibitor will properly dispose of the carcass (according to the Bodies of Dead Animals Act 239 of 1982) and inform the buyer. The buyer and seller will agree on a solution that is acceptable for both parties. A representative from the Livestock Association will aid in the process of connecting the buyer and exhibitor. d. In the case of disease outbreak or quarantine the premiums and/or sale proceeds may be held. e. Kalamazoo County Fair prohibits market livestock exhibitors from entering the Fair if the exhibitor enters the same individual animals at any other fair, prior to the Kalamazoo County Fair, in the same calendar year. If an exhibitor violates this rule, the exhibitor will be prohibited from participating in the Kalamazoo County Fair in the same calendar year. f. ANY ANIMAL ENTERED IN ANY CLASS AT THE FAIR MAY BE SUBJECTED TO DRUG TESTING at the discretion of the Fair Council, Livestock, and/or judge. The Fair s veterinarian/authorized representative may collect urine, blood, hair, tissue, and/or other test samples as needed. Disqualification will result in voiding of the placing(s) of the animal(s) in question, forfeiture of any and all premiums/ribbons/trophies/special awards earned with the animal(s), voiding of the sale(s) if the animal(s) has already been sold in the 4-H market livestock sale and disbarment of the exhibitor from exhibiting in open or 4-H classes at the
Kalamazoo County Fair for a period of three years. Other animals will not be moved up in placing. i. The cost of testing will be absorbed by the fair council unless the test produces a positive result. The cost will then be paid by the owner and/or exhibitor. g. The Kalamazoo County Fair is the showplace for animal agriculture for the county. All animals and livestock shown, housed, or displayed shall receive care that is humane, healthful, and consistent with accepted practices. Professional veterinary care will be on call and available for consultation for any animal injury or illness. Any treatment will be at the expense of the animal owner. Exhibits shall reflect the care and concern that the State of Michigan, MSU Extension 4-H Program, and the Kalamazoo County Fair Council have for livestock, poultry, companion animals, and wildlife. h. A person who discovers, suspects, or has reason to believe that an animal is either affected by a reportable disease or contaminated with a toxic substance shall immediately report that fact, suspicion, or belief to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (daytime phone number is 1-800-292-3939, after hours is 1-517-373-0440). 3. Chain of Command If there are concerns with an animal, they should be reported to the covering that animal. The Fair s will do a daily check of each animal in their barns. They will document that the check was done and any health concerns with any animals on the Daily Log. If there are health concerns, the will either contact the Fair Coordinator, 4- H Program Coordinator, or the President of the Livestock Association. One of these three people will then contact the fair veterinarian and notify the members of the Animal Health Committee. There will be ONE veterinarian for the Kalamazoo County Youth Fair. He/she will give a recommendation as to the condition and actions that should take place with a sick animal. The Fair Veterinarian will report back to the Animal Health Committee on the status of the animal, any recommendation for treatment, and any further action that should take place. The Veterinarian will fill out the Animal Treatment Record triplicate. One copy goes to Fair Coordinator, one to Species, and one to the Exhibitor. In case of a disease outbreak, the committee along with the fair veterinarian will decide what actions should take place. A limited number of people will be allowed to enter into the affected barn, and it will be closed off to the public. 4. Animal barn cleaning and disinfecting a. All of the barns will be disinfected by fairgrounds staff before and after fair. b. Show and equipment (chutes, wash stalls, scales, gates, brooms, shovels, etc.) will also be disinfected and will be the responsibility of the species superintendent. c. Exhibitors are encouraged to clean and disinfect their own equipment before coming to fair, and before returning home.
5. Public Health a. Hand washing stations will be readily available on the show mall by the barn entrances. b. Signs will be posted reminding pedestrians to wash hands before and after entering barns, and also not to eat and/or drink in the barns. c. Educating the public on the importance of these items should be a priority of the person(s) on barn duty in each barn. 6. Animal Check In Species Where Who Checks animals When Testing Required Beef Beef 5pm-7pm but must contact superintendent ahead of time RFID Tag and County Tag Dairy Feeder Calves Swine Sheep Dairy Show Arena Sheep Fair Veterinarian 9am-1pm 8am-10am 4pm-7pm 9am-10:30am 4pm-8pm and 1pm (Weigh In) Goats Goat Rabbits Horse Poultry Rabbit Horse s Poultry Fair Veterinarian Pullorum testor and 5pm-7pm and 12pm-3pm 6pm-8pm and RFID Tag and County Tag RFID Tag and County Tag USDA Scrapie Identification and County Tag (For Market) USDA Scrapie Identification and County Tag Tattoo Coggins Salmonella pullorumtyphoid test
7. Animal Treatment a. In the event an animal being exhibited at the Kalamazoo County Fair begins to display signs of illness after the animal has been checked in or through the duration of the Fair, the biosecurity chain of command will be followed. b. Treatments will be given to an exhibition animal only by the Fair Veterinarian, exhibitor, or superintendent (in the presence of the exhibitor). c. The Animal Health Committee, in consultation with the Fair Veterinarian and exhibitor, will make all decisions regarding animals leaving the premises. d. The Animal Early Release Form must be filled out if an animal is removed from the premises for any health concerns. 8. Communication and Media a. The chain of command will be used to disseminate all information. The Fair Coordinator will be the designated spokesperson for all communications. b. In instances where more technical information is required, the Fair Coordinator may ask others within the chain of command to speak also. 9. Internal Communication a. The chain of command will also be used to disseminate information from the Fair Coordinator to the exhibitors. b. Internal communication will be channeled through Species s. c. If an event will affect exhibitors in more than one species area, a special meeting will be called to take place in the show arena area for all the affected individuals. 10. Quarantine a. In the event that an animal is diagnosed with an infectious, contagious, or toxicological disease during the Fair, the Fair Coordinator will contact MDARD. b. In conjunction with MDARD and the Fair Veterinarian, the Animal Health Committee will decide if the incident is isolated or if further action or quarantine is needed. c. Communication strategies will be discussed at this point. d. If it is determined that a quarantine is necessary, the Animal Health Committee will appoint individuals to help with the following issues: i. Security and Traffic Control 1. The barn will be closed to the public and a limited number of people will be allowed to enter. ii. Animal Care 1. The Species will be responsible for animal care if a quarantine occurs. a. The my designate one or two volunteers to help with this task.
b. The exhibitor will be responsible for providing feed and bedding for their animal and must deliver this to the outside of the barn at designated times. c. The and designated volunteers will make every effort to disinfect themselves between the treatment and handling of each individual animal. Kalamazoo County Youth Fair Chain of Command Fair Veterinarian Fair Coordinator, 4-H Coordinator, LSA President, Fair Council Rep Exhibitor
Fair Coordinator is the point person for Public Safety, Media, Attorney, MDARD, and Health and Community Services. Any issues that arise in these categories should be reported directly to the Fair Coordinator.