GOVERNING ADMISSION OF LIVESTOCK TO 

LOCAL EVENTS IN VIRGINIA 

 Health Rules

Each Superintendent shall be responsible for checking the health status of each animal entered in that division.

ALL SPECIES

A copy of the health papers must accompany the livestock which are exhibited at our show. Representatives of the State’s Veterinarian’s office may request to see the health papers.

ALL ANIMALS WILL BE CHECKED UPON ARRIVAL TO THE FAIRGROUNDS PRIOR TO ADMISSION TO THE BARN TO ENSURE THE  RULES ARE COMPLIED WITH AND THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FAIR.

All Beef, Dairy, Sheep, Goats and Breeding and Feeder Swine, must be accompanied by a health certificate, issued within the past 30 days and signed by an accredited veterinarian who individually lists each animal and certifies that the animals are free of infectious and contagious diseases.

Beef & Dairy

• Respiratory Disease and Recommended Vaccinations: It is recommended that all cattle shall be vaccinated in the current show year against the respiratory complex (shipping fever), including infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), not less than 15 days prior to the show. Type of vaccine and date of administration should be noted on the health certificate.

Sheep

• Any animal exhibiting club lamb fungus, lesions of sore mouths or foot rot must be removed from the exhibition area. 
• To be in compliance with the recommendations of the state veterinarian, all market lambs must be identified with an official scrapie program identification tag in their ear upon arrival at the fairgrounds.  Any sheep not having the tag will be dismissed from the fairgrounds and sent home.

Goats

• Test dates and negative test results of the following tests shall be indicated:
  • Caseous Lymphadenitis:
    • Goats must be free of clinical symptoms of caseous lymphadenitis. Animals showing clinical symptoms of this disease will be removed from the exhibition grounds. “Clinical symptoms” is used to define abscesses of the lymph nodes, whether draining or not.
• To be in compliance with the recommendations of the state veterinarian, all market goats must be identified with an official scrapie program identification tag in their ear or an AGBA tattoo upon arrival at the fairgrounds. Any goats not having the tag or tattoo will be dismissed from the fairgrounds and sent home.

Swine

• Since Virginia is Pseudorabies Free, swine originating in Virginia are free to move intrastate without further testing.

Poultry

• All poultry entered for exhibition shall appear healthy, and shall be external parasite free. Any bird which does not meet these standards shall be immediately removed from the exhibit. 
• All poultry shown in public exhibition in the Commonwealth of Virginia shall originate from the U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean or equivalent flocks of have had a negative pullorum-typhoid test within 90 days of the movement to the public exhibition. 
• It is also recommended that all birds of a flock of origin for exhibition purposes shall have been vaccinated for Infectious Laryngotracheitis tissue culture origin vaccine at least 30 days prior to entering exhibition.

Rabbits

• All rabbits entered for exhibition shall appear healthy, and shall be external parasite free. Any bird which does not meet these standards shall be immediately removed from the exhibit. 

Mortality Disposal Policy

Unfortunately, situations occur where an animal that is being exhibited at the fair can perish in an unexpected manner.  When this situation arises, the exhibitor agrees to 

• remove the animal from the grounds within 30 minutes, and dispose of the animal in accordance with approved legal and industry standards. 
• hold harmless the Clarke County fair, 4-H and FFA programs and their sponsoring organizations or staff. 
• take responsibility for any and all fees associated with the removal and disposal of the animal.