Ingham County Fair 4-H Animal Health Plan

InghamCounty Fair 4-H Animal Health Plan

2013

1. Animal Health Committee

The animal health committee develops a plan for dealing with animal health protocols and potential disease outbreaks. They develop and implement educational programs for exhibitors (youth and adult) that outline comprehensive animal health management that is specie specific. The plan should be a year round planning, organization and implementation cycle.

Primary committee members

1. Fair staff
2. Sandy Dargatz,Executive Director
3. Support staff
4. MSU Extension
5. Betty Jo Nash, 4-H Extension Educator
6. Don Lehman, MSU Extension District 8 Coordinator
7. Support staff
8. 4-H Livestock Superintendents
9. Dan Dunsmore & Val Jackson—Beef
10. Jeff Graf—Dairy Market/Feeder
11. Tom Sterle—Sheep
12. Jerry Schneider—Swine
13. Laura & Stan Moser—Dairy
14. Jennifer Mogyoros—Goats
15. Hollie Dietz—Poultry
16. Penny Jezuit—Rabbits, Pocket Pets
17. Mike Yanz—Horse and pony
18. Steve Opp—Dogs
19. Jo Kinne--Cats
20. Fair Veterinarian
21. Dr. Katafrias Patterson Veterinary Hospital/Clinic

Secondary contacts

1. 4-H Leaders
2. County Emergency Management personnel—Sgt. Robert Ott
3. Fair Insurance Agent—Bob Smith
4. Local Government
5. CountyAttorney
6. County Health Department
7. Media
8. Michigan Department of Agriculture
9. MSU Extension (campus)

1. Rules, Guidelines, Policies

Chain of Command

The individuals that are responsible for implementing and enforcing the policies and plan. The “point person” will address questions and concerns by media personnel if a problem occurs. The chain of command should be shared with everyone involved and followed for any questions or problems that arise. Clear communication to everyone as it is made available should be dispersed through the chain of command to avoid rumors, misinformation, and panic.

See appendix 1: Chain of Command

Animal Check In

Exhibitors will abide by the most recent version of the “Health Requirements for Livestock Exhibited in Michigan” document published by the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Additionally, any guidelines or rules printed in the current year’s Ingham County Fair premium book will apply.

See appendix 2: Health Requirements for Livestock Exhibited in Michigan

At least one week prior to the animal check in date of fair each specie superintendent should contact the fair veterinarian to discuss the check in procedure for their species. They should discuss specific diseases to look for during check in, expectation of each other, and any concerns of either party related to check in. The fair veterinarian will relay information to any other veterinary staff that will be assisting with animal check in.

Livestock with clinical signs of infectious, contagious, or toxicological disease shall be removed from the fair premises immediately, or by permission of the director, shall be isolated on the premises. In the event that an animal is found to be in question during the check in procedure, it will be moved to a temporary holding pen near the check in area. The official fair veterinarian will inspect the animal in question and make a recommendation as to how to proceed. If it is recommended that the animal be removed from the fair premises, the official fair veterinarian, fair manager, species superintendent, MSU Extension, and exhibitor will convene to discuss the situation. The final decision for removal will be made by the fair manager.

All exhibitors requested to remove animals from the fairgrounds will be given recommendations by the veterinarian for treatment, isolation, or termination of the animal upon leaving the grounds or returning home.

An animal health statement detailing previous and ongoing treatment of exhibition animals to be signed by the exhibitor and parent will be required effective for the 2009 Ingham County Fair. The document will be strongly encouraged for the 2008 fair. Exhibitors are expected, and required by law, to adhere to all withdrawl periods for any medications or treatments administered to their project animal.

See appendix 3: Ingham County Fair Health Statement

Designated Check-in procedure per species

Animal Treatment

In the event that an animal being exhibited at the Ingham County Fair begins to display signs of illness after the animal has been checked in or through the duration of the fair, the biosecurity plan chain of command should be followed. As soon as an animal is identified as showing signs of illness the fair veterinarian and exhibitor should be notified. Together with the superintendent, the exhibitor and veterinarian should diagnose the animal and treat the animal if treatment is required. Treatments should be given to an exhibition animal ONLY by the fair veterinarian, exhibitor, or designated person (club leader, personal veterinarian, etc.) in the presence of the exhibitor. If an animal has been treated on the premises, the exhibitor must notify the superintendent. The fair manager, in consultation with the fair veterinarian, will make all decisions regarding animals leaving the premises.

If an animal is found to be ill the fair veterinarian will make recommendations to the superintendent and fair manager about disinfecting the affected area. The veterinarian may also make recommendations regarding safeguarding other animals from the spread of disease. A letter of release will be written by the veterinarian for any animal that must be sent home from the fair. The letter must be carbon copied to the species superintendent, fair manager, MSU Extension, exhibitor, and gate controller. All exhibitors requested to remove animals from the fairgrounds will be given recommendations by the veterinarian for treatment, isolation, or termination of the animal upon leaving the grounds or returning home.

1. Contacts

See Appendix 4: Contact lists

MSU Extension & College of Veterinary Medicine specialists

Michigan Department of Agriculture

Veterinarians

4-H Club contacts

Ingham County Fair contacts

Local government and departments

Media

Superintendents

1. Facilities

The premises and all associated equipment will be adequately prepared for the public prior to the fair according to guidelines of Michigan Department of Agriculture. In the event that there is an animal disease identified on the premises, proper cleaning and disinfecting guidelines as prescribed by the fair veterinarian will be followed. All manure and bedding is contracted to be shipped to an incineration facility.

If an animal on the premises is identified as ill by the fair veterinarian and is required to be isolated on the premises, the animal will be housed away from other animals in a livestock trailer. The quarantine trailer will be properly disinfected upon the release or termination of the animal in question.

Quarantine of specific specie, areas, barns, or facilities will be handled on a case by case basis in accordance with recommendations of the fair veterinarian. All individuals identified in the chain of command will be expected to cooperate to the fullest extent. If outside assistance is needed from public safety and sheriff posse in handling control of quarantine areas, the fair manager will make contacts.

The fair will make hand washing stations available when possible located near barns, food areas, petting zoos, and other such exhibits that could pose potential risk to fair patrons and exhibitors. Signage indicating potential risk will be posted near all animal barns and washing stations educating the public about the importance of washing hands and contamination potential by footwear.

1. Communication and Media

To avoid misinformation, the chain of command will be used to disseminate all information. The fair manager will be the designated spokesperson for all communication. The spokesperson may request others within the chain of command that have technical knowledge of a topic to speak to media directly in instances where specific information is necessary. For example, the spokesperson may request the fair veterinarian to relate information about a specific animal disease or public safety to issue explicit directions for a circumstance. When applicable, written communication on specific diseases will be requested from MSU Extension or Michigan Department of Agriculture to be included in media releases. A list of media release sources can be located in the contact list.

See Appendix 4: Contact lists

Internal Communication

The chain of command will also be used to disseminate information from the fair manager to exhibitors. Regular updates will be provided to exhibitors, parents, and leaders in the event that there is an animal disease issue to ease tension and ensure that everyone has accurate information. Internal communication will be channeled through specie superintendents. In the event that an event will affect exhibitors in more than one specie area, a larger meeting area will be set up in the arena or grandstand.

In the event that quarantine is placed on market animals, the committee chairs of the large and small animal committees will be responsible for establishing communication with packers, processors, and truckers related to the incident. The committee chair may work with superintendents of affected species to complete this task.

1. Education

Education about biosecurity and animal disease is essential to preventing and reducing the risks of an animal disease outbreak at the fair. Education around this topic should happen throughout the year and be a part of the 4-H learning experience. Educational information throughout the year will be dispersed by the MSU Extension office using the chain of command. Dispersed information will include: “Biosecurity for livestock exhibitors” (MSUE publication),

“Biosecurity for livestock and poultry exhibitions” (MSUE publication), and

“Vaccination recommendations for animals attending livestock exhibits” (MSU College of Veterinary Medicine publication).

Additional preventative recommendations and literature may also be dispersed through the chain of command as seen fit by the MSU Extension Educator.

Shortly before the beginning of the fair, the spokesperson will send a local media release reminding the public to be mindful of personal health and safety while visiting fairs and exhibitions. The release should outline precautions the public should take: hand washing, wearing clean footwear, and limiting exposure of animals at fair with animals at home. The media release should also communicate to the public the biosecurity plan and procedures being used by the fair to protect public and animal health.

1. Quarantine

In the event that an animal is diagnosed with an infectious, contagious, or toxicological disease during the fair a meeting of the primary animal health plan (biosecurity) committee will be convened by the fair manager at the first possible occasion. The committee will decide under the recommendation of the fair veterinarian (and/or Michigan Department of Agriculture) if the incident is isolated and contained or if further action or quarantine is needed. The fair manager will have the final decision. The communication strategy will be determined at this meeting and will follow the chain of command.

If it is decided that the animal health issue warrants quarantine the fair manager with the committee will need to appoint leadership to the following issues. Communication to secondary contacts in the animal health plan committee will happen through the fair manager.

Security and traffic control

Animal care (who does it?)

Feeding—all animals will receive same ration

Medicating

Cleaning

Volunteer management—recruitment, scheduling, assigning tasks

Supplies (where to get supplies; who is paying for supplies?)

Feed

Bedding

Medication

Protective clothing

Cleaners

Fair schedule (remainder of week)

Clean up

Will this affect: camping, carnival, other species, fall activities at the fairgrounds

Who has ownership of the animal

Market animals

Death loss

Livestock Sale

Buyers

Processors

Packers

Truckers

Ingham County Fair

Animal Health Statement

I, ______, attest that the animal(s) identified below have been raised and cared for in an ethical and humane fashion to the best of my knowledge. I further declare that all animals are free of drug residue and all medication withdrawl periods have been properly followed.

List animals separately

Exhibitor ______Date ______

Parent/Guardian ______

Contact information in case of emergency

Home address, city, state, zip ______

Home phone ______

Cell phone ______

How to be reached during fair ______

MSU College of Vet Med—Large animal clinical sciences

4-H Clubs