Please review the following items as shared by the Ohio Department of Agriculture – Division of Animal Health as it relates to county/state fair participation. Items are current as of March 17, 2025 when this newsletter was shared.
There are currently no ODA restrictions for holding poultry shows for the 2025 County Fair Season. ODA will continue to monitor the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza situation, both nationally and in Ohio. We recommend fair boards, 4H agents, and OSU Extension Educators continue to work with ODA and their official veterinarian on biosecurity protocols.
The ODA website has the most up-to-date information on detections in Ohio as well as biosecurity resources.
Last bulletin, we covered 5 of the FAQ questions in the FAQ Document on the ODA AH Website. See below for 5 additional frequently asked questions
1) Am I allowed to use a cold towel on my sheep/animal in the makeup ring?
Per 901-19, the application of ice, ice packs, cold packs, or cold compresses prescribed to relieve heat stress or a medical condition diagnosed and prescribed by the official veterinarian at an exhibition are allowed. If the fair is taking place on an extremely hot day and cold water is necessary to cool down the animal per the official veterinarian, that is allowed. However, using ice, ice packs, cold packs, or cold compresses internally or externally for reasons other than what is listed above is an unacceptable practice.
2) Can our county fair drug test feeder calves?
There is growing support to expand drug testing to other classes of livestock exhibition, such as junior livestock exhibition non-terminal shows. Beginning in 2025, ODA will provide testing for the Grand and Reserve Champion market meat goats, market dairy goats, beef feeder calves, and dairy feeder calves (non-terminal) on a voluntary basis. If a fair or sponsor voluntarily wishes to have animals in these additional classes tested, the state will test in the same manner as other market classes. Regardless, all exhibition livestock must maintain the same status at the time of show, which is exhibition drug residue legal.
3) Can my child show an animal in showmanship with a drug in their system or when the animal is not “exhibition drug residue legal”?
ODA allows an animal to be shown in showmanship, even if they do not meet the “exhibition drug residue legal” definition and cannot show in their market or breeding class. That is because the showing of the animal in showmanship is a reflection on the individual showing the animal, not the animal itself. However, a county fair can have more strict rules than ODA and may not allow this animal to be shown.
4) Is an animal allowed to go through the sale ring when they are not exhibition drug residue legal?
If a situation arises that necessitates that an animal receives a medication after the show and before the sale, a new DUNF must be filed with the local sponsor immediately. This must also be done under the advisement and approval of the official veterinarian. Once done so, the animal may then go through the sale ring. All appropriate withdrawal times must be kept and the buyer notified of withdrawal time, if there is one.
However, a county fair can have more strict rules than ODA and may not allow this animal to be sold until the withdrawal time has been met.
5) Can I give my animal water by mouth via a hand pump or syringe at the exhibition?
You cannot FORCIBLY give an animal water by mouth at an exhibition. This practice is referred to as drenching. “Drenching” means the act of using an instrument, including a bottle, placed in an animal’s mouth to orally administer a liquid, food, or any other substance. Drenching of livestock at an exhibition is prohibited, unless prescribed by the official veterinarian. Drenching is when you are forcing the animal to take in the liquid.
However, if you are holding a hand pump (in the example of swine) and the hog comes up and voluntarily takes a drink from the hand pump, that is acceptable.
Find the First Fairs and Exhibitions newsletter on our website.
Download a copy of the updated ODA FAQ, which includes additional questions not listed above.
Exhibition Guidance and Best Practice Checklist
To see the current rules:
Cattle warts, also know as papillomatosis, are caused by several strains of bovine papilloma virus (BPV). Warts are typically found in the head, neck, and shoulder regions but may also be located on the teats, back, abdomen, or venereal region.
Most wart appears as growths on the skin with a thickened, hard, and scaly surface that may resemble cauliflower. Some strains of BPV may produce a papulonodule, which extends deeper into the dermal layer with a similar hard and scaley surface. Diagnosis is typically made by observation.
Transmission of cattle warts may occur due to direct contact with the warts or through indirect contact with fomites such as halters, tack, and medical instruments. There is also potential for spread through insect vectors. While cattle warts are contagious among cattle, they are not zoonotic as most papilloma viruses are species-specific.
Prevention of cattle warts includes disinfection of shared tack, medical instruments, and other equipment. If papillomatosis is problem at the herd level, vaccination is possible through commercially available or autogenous vaccines. Cattle warts typically resolve on their own, though they may last a year or more. Surgical removal is recommended for warts that are large or numerous.
Cattle with warts should refrain from exhibition or have the warts surgically removed before shows and fairs.
If you are an educator, parent, exhibitor, or fair veterinarian and have additional questions, our Fairs/Exhibitions Administrative team is always available to answer questions. If you wish to speak to the team, please email animal@agri.ohio.gov.
Dr. Dennis Summers – State Veterinarian
Dr. Kristy Shaw – Assistant State Veterinarian
Jacquie Keller-Potvin – Program Administrator
Cindy Bodie – Program Administrator
Below is a flyer for an upcoming Multi-Species Clinic and Quality Assurance (QA) event in Holmes County. Please feel free to share this with others who may be interested. Below are some key activities happening at the event.
Thanks!
Below include general reminders and updates related to the 2025 Ohio State Fair:
It’s that time of year when we hear in the news of barn fires as a result of heat lamps being used for lambing, kidding, and even calving. As temperatures get colder, livestock producers raising young animals need to make conditions favorable for rearing newborns in adverse conditions. Adding heat lamps to livestock pens should be done with caution. With any electrical appliance or heating source, precautions need to be taken.
If you must use a heat lamp, best management practices recommend the following tips:
Heat lamps pose a significant fire risk, as they are designed to warm the area they are heating. There will be cases where you cannot avoid using a heat lamp, and in those situations, it is important to continuously check on the livestock and monitor the pen area for signs of overheating or dryness of the bedding material. Once the animal is warmed, turn off the light.
This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team, https://agsafety.osu.edu/.
Sabrina Schirtzinger, ANR Educator Knox County, can be reached at 740-397-0401 or Schirtzinger.55@osu.edu.
Wayne Dellinger, ANR Educator Union County, can be reached at 937-644-8117 or Dellinger.6@osu.edu.
Dee Jepsen, Ag Safety and Health Specialist, can be reached at 614-292-6008 or Jepsen.4@osu.edu.
Apply by April 15th!
Entries for the 2025 Fairfield County Jr. Fair Goat, Swine, and Lamb MQP programs are now being accepted. Again this year all MQP entries will be accepted on-line and must be submitted by April 15, 2025.
Please note that some of the important MQP details have changed as follows:
Applications for any of these contests must be received on-line by April 15, 2025. Find more details about MQP here: https://go.osu.edu/mqp
Weigh-in for all calves intended for the market beef show in 2025 is March 8th, by appointment!
It’s time once again to prepare for Jr. Market Beef tagging and weigh-in. This year it is being conducted in a fashion like recent years and continues to include exhibitors planning to participate in the ‘finished’ Dairy Beef Steer project that was created last year in Fairfield County.
Market beef weigh-in for traditional beef animals as well as dairy market beef is set for Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Fairfield Cattle Company located at 3443 Cincinnati-Zanesville Road (S.R. 22), Lancaster, from 8:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. In advance of March 8th exhibitors will be required to tag their own market beef animals with an 840 EID tag (unless the calf already has an EID tag). Visual numbered tags are encouraged but will not be provided or required this year. As in the recent past, participants will submit a hair follicle DNA sample at the weigh-in for each calf.
Again this year families with market beef and dairy market beef projects are also required to reserve a weigh-in time for the 8th, and only those directly involved in transporting and weighing-in calves should plan to attend . . . please, no spectators! The goal remains to reduce congregation at weigh-in and minimize the transfer of paperwork. Specifically, the step-by-step process and requirements include . . . Continue reading Market Beef and Dairy Market Beef Tagging, Weighing, and DNA Sample Collection Procedure for 2025
Get the tagging and weigh-in dates on your calendar.
The good news is . . . participation in livestock projects remains strong while muscle quality and performance carcass-based project participation continues to grow in Fairfield County. The rest of the good news is, although there will be a few changes, plans continue to accommodate all the livestock project participation that is being experienced. That said, for the most part weigh-in/tagging dates, as well as harvest dates will remain similar in 2025 to what they were in 2024.
The changes being considered involve the Beef Performance & Carcass Quality (BPCQ), Swine MQP and Goat MQP programs.
A third, optional, early harvest date for participants in the BPCQ is being added for those youth with early born calves who would like to conclude their carcass-based project in August. The youth participating in the August harvest will weigh/tag their BPCQ calves on February 1. The two later September beef harvest dates will also be maintained and calves being harvested then will be weighed/tagged along with the ‘live’ beef cattle on March 8. Youth had the opportunity to apply for BPCQ with an application deadline for the 2025 BPCQ contest of January 8, 2025 and on a first come, first served basis select their preferred harvest date.
Swine MQP will be considering two changes. First change being considered is pigs will be weighed/tagged in specifically for either the MQP or ‘live’ show. The pigs for each contest will be Continue reading Livestock Tagging/Weighing and MQP Dates for 2025
From the Desk of the State Veterinarian, Dr. Dennis Summers, State Veterinarian and Animal Health Division Chief
Ohio’s Livestock Exhibition Rules, Livestock Show Reform Act, and state Livestock Exhibition Program are nationally and internationally recognized for being some of the best in the country and the world. Ohio and all its livestock producers and exhibitors help to keep Ohio as a top state for exhibition regulations and superior quality exhibition livestock.
In this newsletter, we aim to provide key topics and discussions on the most important and current topics related to livestock exhibition rules. It is important that all sponsors, exhibitors, producers, and veterinarians understand these new rules and be familiar with the changes and expectations. Failure to read and understand these rules, or ignoring the requirements, may have a negative impact on an exhibitor and their family. The goal is to provide information in various formats so that everyone can exhibit and enjoy the rewards of their hard work while following the law.
The 2024 fair season was another great year, and we know that 2025 will be even better. Thanks for your support!
1) What livestock are required to complete a Drug Use Notification Form (DUNF)
A drug use notification form is to be completed for the following livestock exhibited in a junior livestock show: market beef; market hog; market lamb; veal calf; market dairy cattle; market goats; market poultry; lactating dairy animals; market rabbits; and feeder cattle. **Please review Fairfield County Junior Fair Book for a complete list of species.
2) What is Exhibition Drug Residue legal?
All livestock shall be exhibition drug residue legal (EDRL) prior to the start of the show in which the livestock is entered into for exhibition. This includes market, non-terminal, open, and breeding classes. This means that all exhibition livestock:
**Please review Fairfield County Junior Fair Book as we require all livestock to be Exhibition Drug Residue legal at fair weigh-in/check-in.
3) Do feeder calves and lactating cattle have to meet the same drug residue or withdrawal times as market class animals?
Yes. All livestock shall be exhibition drug residue legal (EDRL) prior to the start of the show in which the livestock is entered into for exhibition. This means that drugs, including but not limited to, pain killers, steroids, antibiotics, dewormers, and vaccines, must have met withdrawal times and tolerance by time of show to be eligible. This will require responsible use, recordkeeping, and stewardship of drugs and quality assurance on behalf of the veterinarian and exhibitor. ODA expects exhibitors to maintain the highest ethical standards when completing drug use notification forms to ensure that drugs and treatments are properly disclosed and to ensure exhibition livestock maintain EDRL status at time of show.
4) Can vaccines be given to animals before the show?
As stated above, all livestock must be exhibition drug residue legal at the time of show. This means that all vaccines, dewormers, and medications must meet their withdrawal period by the day of show. Vaccines and preventive drugs should be part of managing disease during stressful commingling events with livestock, such as exhibitions. The rules do not prohibit the use of vaccines as part of an effective disease prevention program designed by the official veterinarian, fair board, or your private veterinarian. But vaccines are drugs with a withdrawal time, and if those medications are given as preconditioning before coming to the fairgrounds, they must be given far enough in advance to take into the account the withdrawal period for those medications and drugs. In some circumstances, sponsors may have to adjust their prevention programs or policies in consultation with the official veterinarian to ensure that exhibitors maintain eligibility for the show.
5) Are vaccines considered drugs? How does this impact drug testing?
Yes, vaccines are considered drugs. The federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&Act) defines drugs as “articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease,” and vaccines meet this definition. Additionally, under the exhibition rules, “drug” means “any article…intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans or animals or any article, other than food, intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of humans or animals…”
There is growing support to expand drug testing to other classes of livestock exhibition, such as junior livestock exhibition non-terminal shows. Beginning in 2025, the state program will offer testing for market meat goats, market dairy goats, and feeder calves (non-terminal) on a voluntary basis. If a fair or sponsor voluntarily wishes to have animals in these additional classes tested, the state will test in the same manner as other market classes. Regardless, all exhibition livestock must maintain the same status at the time of show, which is exhibition drug residue legal.
Download a copy of the updated ODA FAQ, which includes 22 additional questions not listed above.
Exhibition Guidance and Best Practice Checklist
To see the current rules:
Ohio’s Exhibition Rules including Ohio Administrative Code 901:1-18 and Ohio Administrative Code 901-19 were updated May 23, 2024. Beginning January 1, 2027, all cattle and swine will be required to have official ear tags at exhibitions in Ohio. Official ear tags are USDA-approved electronic identification devices that are both visibly and electronically readable (i.e. 840 RFID tag).
Currently, free official RFID ear tags are available from ODA for cattle exhibitors that have a Premises ID. Additionally, official RFID tags can be purchased from vendors and distributors.
To assist Ohio fairs and exhibitions with the requirement to have RFID ear tags in all swine, ODA has purchased Allflex HDX button RFID ear tags approved for swine. Each fair is eligible for an initial distribution of up to 100 free swine RFID ear tags. To request tags, please contact Cindy Bodie at Cindy.Bodie@agri.ohio.gov or call the ODA office at 614-728-6220 ext 1.
Many (at least 35) of Ohio’s county and independent fairs are already using RFID tags in some capacity; we expect that number will grow with the new exhibition rules in place (see above). While the requirement to have official ID that is electronically readable does not require fairs and other exhibitions to utilize an RFID reader, doing so can certainly help reduce transcription errors and improve efficiency. Several fair software programs, including FairEntry and ShoWorks, allow for RFID tag data to be gathered and transmitted directly to the program.
ODA has RFID readers available for loan to Ohio veterinarians, livestock markets, exhibitions, and producers. There are different models and manufacturers including the Allflex AWR 300 and RS 420 and the TruTest (Datamars) XRS2i. The readers are available for loan free of charge on a first come, first served basis, so please contact us early to get your reservation. You can start the reservation process by submitting a request form—more information is also available on the ODA Animal Health website: RFID | Ohio Department of Agriculture. Additional questions can be directed to our office at 614-728-6220 ext 1.
In the past, there was confusion around when to pullorum test poultry at county fairs. Starting for the 2025 fair season and going forward, all market chickens and market turkeys that are bought from an NPIP source do NOT have to be pullorum tested before exhibition.
As a part of the NPIP program, those hatcheries and flocks continue to be a part of a testing program to ensure pullorum free status. Even if an individual brings those market poultry to their property where they have other birds present (layers, fancy birds, etc.), they do NOT need to be retested.
The above exemption is for market poultry projects (turkeys, chickens) only. If individuals are showing in a fancy or breeding poultry show (typically these projects are multi-year projects), those birds MAY be subject to pullorum testing.
The fairs and exhibitions may have more stringent rules than those enacted by ODA. However, if they do, then that fair will be responsible for enforcing that rule.
Ringworm is a fungal infection affecting the skin, hair, and nails and is also known as dermatophytosis. Ringworm affects many mammalian species including cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses, dogs, and cats. It is also zoonotic, meaning that humans can get infected from animals as well. It i
s highly infectious among animals and between animals and humans, so be sure to wear gloves and wash hands when handling an animal with a known or suspected ringworm infection.
There are many species of fungus that cause dermatophytosis. Most of these species of ringworm do NOT glow under Wood’s Lamp, so it is not an effective means of diagnosis. Fungal culture is the only test that can definitively diagnose dermatophytosis, but results can take as long as three weeks. However, ringworm has distinctive lesions that can indicate an infection to you and your veterinarian.
Ringworm lesions are typically individual, circular areas of hair loss that may have scaling, crusting, and/or oozing along with redness or inflammation. Lesions are commonly found on the face, neck, chest, and limbs. These lesions may only become evident after shearing, so it is important to disinfect clippers between animals or use an entirely different set after clipping an infected animal.
While ringworm typically self-resolves, there are treatments that can aid the process and reduce spread since resolution may take 4 to 12 weeks. Supportive treatment of ringworm typically consists of topical therapy and adjustments in husbandry, as overcrowding can perpetuate infection among individuals. Isolation of infected animals until resolution of lesions is ideal when possible. Please consult your veterinarian for use of topical therapies. Resolution is usually determined by new wool or hair growth in the lesion and supported by hair or wool around the edge of lesion not being easily removed when pulled.
As a reminder – animals that have active ringworm lesions should NOT be taken to the fair, especially given the zoonotic and contagious nature of the disease.
To see how ringworm lesions may progress overtime, please see the infographic provided below.
Diamond C Livestock: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=572655578410153&set=a.472144501794595
The Division of Animal Health is making a concerted effort for the 2025 fair season to do as much outreach to the various interested parties and entities affected by these new rules as possible, to make sure the exhibition rules are visible to everyone. The following are meetings and outreach activities that are planned or have already been attended by ODA Animal Health staff (with more added as they arise).
If your 4-H club, Fair Board, or other entity would like ODA Animal Health staff to present at a meeting of yours, do not hesitate to reach out – animal@agri.ohio.gov.
If you are an educator, parent, exhibitor, or fair veterinarian and have additional questions, our Fairs/Exhibitions Administrative team is always available to answer questions. If you wish to speak to the team, please email animal@agri.ohio.gov.
Source: Fairs and Exhibitions FAQ and Hot Topics Edition – shared December 20, 2024
The Livestock Sale Committee has a few open positions for the upcoming year. If interested in serving on this committee, please reach out to Leslie Cooksey or Doug Shell. Please reach out by December 15th is you are interested. Thanks!