Assuring the quality and safety of the meat products sold as a result of junior livestock programs and 4-H/FFA projects is very important.
As a result of the information we received on Tuesday, April 29th, (see below) the Southern Utah Junior Livestock Show will be a terminal show for hogs. This means that animals brought to the show will have to go to slaughter, and will not be able to return (live) to any individuals' home. Please keep this in mind as we come up on Sheep/Swine tagging day May 10th and consult the rules of the stock show (found HERE) on how many animals you can show/sell at the Stock Show. Again, no pigs will be allowed to be taken back home after the show this year. Please call if you have questions.
The following messages were forwarded to us from Kerry Rood, Extension Veterinarian.
All:
Porcine Endemic Diarrhea
Virus continues to spread through the U.S. and Canadian pig industries. A news
report today indicates that it has killed more than 10% of the U.S. swine
population (Reuters,
April 28, 2014). PEDv has not been reported in Utah despite being found in
neighboring states.
With the exhibition
season approaching, please find a link to a central deposit of information on
PEDv, including fact sheets on biosecurity and disinfecting. In particular the
link contains recommendations regarding exhibitions and those involved in weigh-in
or tagging events.
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Cell (801) 514-2152
Dr. Warren Hess (801) 538
-4910
Date: April 29, 2014
EMERGENCY
ORDER ISSUED TO PROTECT UTAH SWINE
(Salt Lake City) - The State
Veterinarian’s Office issued an emergency order increasing restrictions on the
showing and importation of swine in Utah in an effort to prevent the
introduction or spread of the highly contagious livestock disease, Porcine Epidemic
Diarrhea virus, or the PED virus. PEDv is not a threat to humans or other
animal species.
The order changes the way swine are
exhibited at fairs and livestock shows by requiring the shows to be “terminal.”
Effective May 5, 2014, all county and state fairs as well as other
showings such as junior livestock shows and exhibitions where pigs and hogs are
displayed or sold shall be considered a “terminal” show. This means that
students and others who intend to enter swine for judging will not be allowed
to bring the animals back to the farm, and the swine must go directly to
slaughter. The State Veterinarian’s Office also strongly recommends
that all shows scheduled to occur before May 5, 2014 be held as a
“terminal” show.
The emergency order also requires all
hogs and pigs entering Utah to be inspected by a veterinarian, and have a
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) that contains the following
language; “To the best of my knowledge, swine represented on this certificate
have not, within the past 30 days, originated from premises known to be
affected by Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) and have not been exposed to
PEDv.”
“PEDv is highly contagious, and
therefore aggressive steps must be taken to protect Utah’s $200 million pork
industry,” said Assistant State Veterinarian, Dr. Warren Hess. “I also
want our 4-H kids to be able to show their animals, however this order requires
that they not take their animals back home.”
“This order does not cancel any
livestock show; it does put into place prudent measures intended to keep Utah
one of a minority of states that is free of the PED virus. Utah only
recently relaxed its ban on “terminal” swine shows, but because of the
resurgence of PEDv in more than 30 states, including four of the five states
boarding Utah (Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arizona), it has become necessary
to reinstate these protections,” Dr. Hess added.
The Utah Department of Agriculture and
Food (UDAF) is taking this action following the announced requirement by the USDA that any case of PEDv and Swine Delta
Coronavirus be reported nationally. In addition, the USDA is requiring
the tracking of movements of pigs, vehicles, and other equipment leaving affected
premises; however, movements would still be allowed.
Since June 2013 as many as 7 million
pigs have died in the United States due to the virus. PEDv was first
diagnosed in Ohio last May and has spread within a year to 30 states with no
reliable cure in sight, according to the USDA. Many states are increasing
their regulatory precautions relating to swine livestock shows.
See swine biosecurity recommendations
for show organizers here.
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