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Animal health remains top priority for Ohio county fairs

By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — It’s a common scene at county and state fairs: a parade of urban kids pressed against the pen gates, straining to pet a sheep or goat. With increasing urbanization, a state or county fair is the only time some people see cows, pigs and chickens.

“Fairs are all about agriculture and education and that’s not just for exhibitors but for the general public as well” said State Veterinarian Tony Forshey. “We want to make sure that it is a good experience for everybody. That is why it is important for fair veterinarians to be there every day.”

Fair veterinarians must walk in the barns, inspect animals for symptoms of infectious or contagious diseases and be certain the animals have food and water, said Forshey. Because the animals are concentrated in a small area and the general public is walking through, it is important that the veterinarian keeps a close watch.  But keeping fair animals healthy starts before the fair and involves more than the veterinarian:

“Four entities are involved in animal care at the fair,” Forshey said. “The fair board itself for each fair; an approved fair veterinarian or a group of veterinarians; OSU Extension gets involved in implementing Quality Assurance programs; the exhibitors themselves.”

Ohio is very strict in protocols for drug uses. An exhibitor must fill out a drug use notification form (DUNF) for all market livestock. If a medication was given, it must be listed on the DUNF along with the date when it was given, why it was given, withdrawal time. If the medication was a prescription medication, the veterinarian’s name must also be listed.

The Quality Assurance Pro-grams conducted by OSU Extension are very essential, Forshey said. Exhibitors must attend them annually. “Our biggest concern is animal welfare and ultimately food safety issues that go along with that so the consumer gets a wholesome quality product when it goes to slaughter and into the food chain,” Forshey said.

There are only two reasons why exhibitors would use drugs, Forshey said. One would be for disease treatment. If drugs must be used to treat a disease that is recorded and “if this animal happens to win the show then we can hold that animal until the withdrawal time is up,” Forshey said.  The only other reason for using drugs would be for show enhancement, to mask lameness or to mask the appearance of the animal and that type of drug use is prohibited in Ohio.

“Ohio is probably the toughest in the country when it comes to these sorts of things,” Forshey said. “We do testing of the urine and hair of all the grand and reserve champions of certain animals that are destined for slaughter; dairy and market steers, sheep, hogs, those animals that are going directly to slaughter we test the urine and hair for drugs.” Ohio has a vast array of disciplines for violations, Forshey said. Violators may have to attend continuing education; they may get a written letter of reprimand. If it is grand or reserve and is serious enough the animal and the exhibitor may be disqualified.

“They return all their awards’ prizes and proceeds,” Forshey said. “We take this very seriously from a food safety standpoint,” he said. “Overall, the county and state fairs go very smoothly.”
Ohio’s rules for exhibiting animals are listed online at www.codes.ohio.gov/oac/901-19

6/12/2008