Precautions at the Nebraska State Fair to Safeguard Livestock Health
As the Nebraska State Fair welcomes over 10,000 livestock entries this year, animal health remains a top priority. While only a handful of animals typically arrive with health issues, fair organizers have put stringent measures in place to manage any potential disease outbreaks.
According to Sievers, the fair has designated isolated pens for beef animals if veterinarians identify any contagious diseases. “There are pens back here for any beef animals that we deem necessary to put in those,” Sievers explained, gesturing towards the pens surrounded by tall grass. “Obviously, you can tell that we have not had to use them yet.”
In addition to these designated pens, barns for smaller livestock are prepared to act as quarantine zones if needed.
Jamie Fugate, who oversees the Open Class Boer Goat show, highlighted some changes for this year’s exhibitors. “If they are coming from out of the state of Nebraska, they have to have a health certificate,” Fugate noted. “So, their vets have to inspect all their animals – and now, this year, I believe it’s within 48 hours.”
Livestock arriving from outside the state must present a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) issued within 30 days prior to the event. However, hooved animals like horses, cattle, and goats from areas experiencing vesicular stomatitis (VS) outbreaks are required to have a 48-hour CVI.
The disease, which has been detected in New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona, causes symptoms such as blister-like sores, excessive salivation, and fever. It is highly contagious, with symptoms manifesting within two days to a week, making frequent health assessments crucial to prevent the spread of infection.
To protect the livestock at the fair, Nebraska’s state veterinarian has enforced regulations designed to prevent the introduction of the virus. Each year, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture collaborates with the State Fair to establish comprehensive livestock safety protocols.
The State Fair’s animal health requirement handbook states, “Any animal showing evidence of infectious, contagious, or communicable diseases may be immediately withdrawn from the show and held in quarantine at owner’s risk and expense until properly treated and recovered or until properly released to return to owner’s premises following treatment.”
