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ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIRMENTS
Admission to New York State and County Fairs

(Part 351 of NYS Agriculture and Markets Regulations)
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets/Division of Animal Industry 

10B Airline Drive
Albany, NY 12235
518-457-3502 

www.agriculture.ny.gov/AI/AIHome.html

Please Review Relevant Sections Below.

General Prohibitions and Requirements 

• No person shall bring or have present an animal on the fairgrounds during a fair which is not qualified under NYS regulations. 

• No person shall present an interstate or intrastate certificate of veterinary inspection that has been altered by anyone other than the issuing veterinarian or an authorized agent.

• Animals demonstrating clinical signs or other evidence of infectious, contagious or communicable diseases shall not be allowed on the fairgrounds during a fair.

• Representatives of the Commissioner may deny admission to or require removal from the fair premises, or require the segregation of any animal showing signs of or exposed to any infectious, contagious or communicable disease. 

NOTE: The fair board of directors has the authority to reject unworthy or unsightly exhibits for reasons other than infectious, contagious or communicable disease (Part 350.10). The state veterinarian or animal health inspector will bring questionable exhibits to the attention of the fair board. 

• All animals presented that originate from a location other than New York shall meet all New York State importation regulations appropriate to the species in addition to the fair animal health requirements. 

Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) 

• Cattle, sheep, goats, swine, llamas, alpacas, deer, and misc. ruminants, require a valid CVI to enter the fairgrounds. 
• The CVI must be issued by a Category 2 accredited veterinarian. 
• All animals must be officially identified. All manmade ID must be recorded. 

Refer to Animal Identification section below for more information. 

• Only one species is allowed per certificate. 
• The type and duration of certificate required depends on the origin of the livestock. 

New York Origin Livestock: 

• A valid intrastate CVI (AI-61) is required. 
• Each animal must be individually identified on the CVI (see below). 
• The CVI must be issued on or after May 1 of the current year. 

Out of State Origin Livestock: 

• All animals entering New York State must satisfy import health and test requirements for that species and be accompanied by a valid interstate CVI. 
• The interstate CVI is valid for 30 days from the date of CVI inspection. During the fair season (July 1 through Labor Day) valid CVI’s can be used multiple times for entrance into fairs. The initial entrance into a fair must be within 30 days of the date of CVI inspection. In order for the CVI to be used for a later fair, it must be dated and initiated by a state official noting the location of the initial fair. A change in health status or eligibility of an animal necessitates the generation of a new CVI. 
• Questions regarding import requirements should be directed to the Division of Animal Industry at 518-457-3971, or at the division’s import/export homepage: http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AI/import_export.html 

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ANIMAL IDENTIFCATION

• Cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and deer/elk must be identified by USDA approved official identification. Cattle, swine and deer/elk must be identified by official ear tag. Sheep and goats must be identified by official scrapie identification (see sheep and goat sections below). 
• Llamas and alpacas can be identified by ear tag or microchip approved by the Department of Agriculture and Markets. A sketch or photograph signed and dated by an accredited veterinarian is also acceptable identification for llamas and alpacas. 
• Misc. ruminants must be identified by Department of Agriculture and Markets approved identification. 

NOTE: A complete written description is sufficient identification for horses entering New York accompanied by a CVI. The description must match the EIA test record. Horse sketches and descriptions should reference color pattern, hair whorls, chestnuts, scars and other markings as necessary to uniquely identify the horse. Tattoos and microchips if any should be included. “Bay, no markings” is not an acceptable description for a CVI or EIA test record

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RABIES VACCINATION

• Rabies vaccination is required for all species for which there is a USDA licensed vaccine available (cattle, horses, sheep, dog, cat, ferret) and that are 4 months of age or older on the date of admission to the fair. 
• Vaccine must have been administered within the past 12 months. The exception is IMRAB LA vaccine used in sheep which protects for 3 years after the second annual vaccination (consult your veterinarian). 
• The rabies vaccination requirement must be met on the day of admission even if the animal was previously admitted to a fair when too young to vaccinate. 

NOTE: Individual fairs can require animals for which there is no approved rabies vaccine to be vaccinated for rabies. The requirements outlined above would apply. The fair is responsible for notifying exhibitors. The New York State Fair requires rabies vaccination for all livestock species entering the grounds. 

Acceptable Proof of Rabies Vaccination 

• Acceptable proof of rabies vaccination must include a signed written statement from the veterinarian administering the vaccine or a valid certificate of veterinary inspection that has the vaccination listed and is signed by the Category 2 accredited veterinarian. 
• Acceptable proof of vaccination must include the name of the product used, the date of administration and the duration of immunity if longer than one year. 
• If the statement of rabies vaccination is included on an EIA test record, it must be signed separately in addition to the required EIA test record signature. 

NOTE: Rabies titers are not acceptable proof of rabies protection and cannot be used to meet    entry requirements. 

Acceptable proof of vaccination for dogs is a valid vaccination certificate or a copy of the dog license that contains the rabies vaccination information. 

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BVD-PI TESTING

All cattle, llamas and alpacas exhibited at NY county fairs or the State Fair must be negative to an approved test appropriate to detect Bovine Viral Diarrhea persistent infection (BVD-PI). This is a once in a lifetime test that must be reported on the required certificate of veterinary inspection. The issuing veterinarian is responsible for verifying the validity of the test, the identification of the animal and recording the test date on the CVI. If a previous test is not verifiable the test must be repeated. 

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CATTLE TESTING

• Currently acceptable BVD tests for cattle less than 61 days old: 
  • Skin notch Antigen Capture ELISA (ACE) or Immunohistochemistry (IHC) 
  • whole blood virus isolation 
  • whole blood PCR 
• Currently acceptable BVD tests for cattle 61 days of age and older: 
  • Skin notch Antigen Capture ELISA (ACE) or Immunohistochemistry (IHC) 
  • Serum or milk Antigen Capture ELISA (ACE) 
  • Whole blood virus isolation 
  • Whole blood, serum or plasma PCR 

Note: The NYS Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University can conduct PCR testing on pools of up to 10 cattle. 

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LLAMA / ALPACA

Currently Acceptable BVD tests: 

• PCR 
• Whole blood virus isolation 

Note: The NYS Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University can pool llama, etc. samples for PCR testing as follows: Animals less than 61 days of age can be tested in pools of 2 animals, whole blood only. Animals 61 days of age and older can be tested in pools of 5 animals using whole blood, serum or plasma. 

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CLEANING / DISINFECTION

All buildings on the fairgrounds housing animals must be cleaned and disinfected prior to the opening of the fair and between groups of animals when housing is rotated (Section 50.2 of Agriculture and Market regulations)

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ANIMAL DEATH

Occasionally animal deaths occur at a fair.  If it occurs it must be reported to the state veterinarian in charge as soon as possible for review.  The animal must be promptly removed from the public exhibit area to a secure location and held for the veterinarian prior to disposal.

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KIDDING, CALVING, AND LAMBING 

• Due to the concern about the spread of scrapie, any sheep or goats that are exhibited at a county fair that have recently given birth or have a vaginal discharge, will be ordered removed along with their offspring. 
• The causative agent for scrapie may be present in high concentration in fluids associated with birth and the risk of transmission is considered highest at that time. 

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COMMINGLING OF SHEEP/CATTLE

Due to the potential spread of malignant catarrhal fever from sheep to cattle, it is recommended that cattle be kept separate from sheep. 

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COMMINGLING OF SWINE AND POULTRY

Due to the potential spread of influenza viruses it is recommended that swine and poultry be housed in separate locations. 

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ISOLATION ON RETURNING HOME

The owner or custodian shall keep show animals biologically separate from the herd or flock for a period of at least two weeks after returning to the premises of origin. If any illness is noted in the exhibition animals the owner should contact their veterinarian immediately. 

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HORSES

• Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) is not required for New York origin horses. CVI is required for imported horses. 
• Negative Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) test is required for all horses 6 months of age or older. The horse must be accompanied by a valid negative EIA test record. The test must have been conducted during the current or previous calendar years for New York origin horses. For imported horses, the test must be conducted within 12 months of entry. 
• The EIA test certificate must include a complete description of the horse. 
• Rabies vaccination is required for all horses 4 months of age or older (see above). 
• A valid GoPass equine passport can be used as an entry document. If interested in the GoPass contact your veterinarian. More information is available at GlobalVetLink : http://www.globalvetlink.com/

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CATTLE

• Certificate of Veterinary Inspection with animals properly identified (see Animal Identification section above). 
• Rabies vaccination is required for all cattle 4 months of age or older (see above). 
• All cattle must be negative to an approved test appropriate to detect Bovine Viral Diarrhea persistent infection (BVD-PI). (See current acceptable tests above.) The date and results of the testing must be noted on the certificate of veterinary inspection. 
• All cattle must be vaccinated against bovine respiratory disease complex including bovine respiratory syncytial virus, bovine virus diarrhea, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and parainfluenza with a product administered in a manner and time frame adequate to confer protective immunity for these diseases for the duration of the fair. 

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SHEEP

• Certificate of Veterinary Inspection with animals individually identified with USDA approved individual scrapie program identification. Identification must be one of the following: 1) USDA approved tags or 2) a legible USDA approved flock tattoo and individual animal ID number or 3) electronic ID if the sheep is enrolled in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program. For information on scrapie ID, contact USDA at 518-218-7540. 
• Rabies vaccination is required for all sheep 4 months of age or older (see above). 
• The CVI must contain a written statement from the issuing Category 2 accredited veterinarian that the flock of origin was inspected after May 1 of the current year and no evidence of contagious, infectious or communicable diseases was found. 
• If evidence of sore mouth (contagious ecthyma) is found on any sheep, the entire exhibit including the affected animals shall immediately be removed from the fair premises with the holding pens cleaned and disinfected immediately after removal. 

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GOATS

• Certificate of Veterinary Inspection with animals individually identified with USDA approved individual scrapie program identification. Identification must be one of the following: 1) USDA approved tags or 2) a legible registration tattoo or 3) a legible USDA approved herd tattoo and individual animal ID number or 4) electronic ID if the goat is enrolled in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program and/or the electronic ID is recorded on the goats registration paper. For information on scrapie ID, contact USDA at 518-218-7540. 
• The CVI must contain a written statement from the issuing Category 2 accredited veterinarian that the herd of origin was inspected after May 1 of the current year and no evidence of contagious, infectious or communicable diseases was found. 
• If evidence of sore mouth (contagious ecthyma) is found on any goat, the entire exhibit including the affected animals shall immediately be removed from the fair premises with the holding pens cleaned and disinfected immediately after removal. 

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SWINE

• Certificate of Veterinary Inspection with animals properly identified (see Animal Identification section above)

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LLAMA AND ALPACAS 

• Certificate of Veterinary Inspection with animals properly identified (see Animal Identification section above). 
• All llamas and alpacas must be negative to an approved test appropriate to detect Bovine Viral Diarrhea persistent infection (BVD-PI). (See current acceptable tests above.) The date and results of the testing must be noted on the certificate of veterinary inspection

 

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POULTRY

• Poultry (with the exception of doves, pigeons and waterfowl) must be accompanied by 1) results of a negative pullorum typhoid test conducted within 90 days prior to exhibition OR 2) proof that the birds originated directly from a US pullorum-typhoid clean flock or equivalent flock. 
• Pullorum test negative poultry must be identified by official leg band. 
• Proof of NPIP status must be in the form of an NPIP certificate or purchase receipt containing NPIP certification information

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DEER / ELK (Cervidae) 

• Certificate of Veterinary Inspection with animals properly identified (see Animal Identification section above). 
• Originate from a herd classified as accredited or qualified under USDA tuberculosis regulations. 
• A movement permit obtained from the Division of Animal Industry is required for all deer movements. All CWD and TB program requirements must be met before a permit will be issued. Questions regarding movement permits should be directed to the Division of Animal Industry at 518-457-3971. 

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Miscellaneous Ruminants 

• Certificate of Veterinary Inspection with animals properly identified (see Animal Identification section above).

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