Protecting People and Animals

Protecting People and Animals. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

Over the next several weeks, there will be a lot of fairs, shows, exhibitions, and competitions involving livestock all around the Pacific Northwest. For owners of those animals, there is one simple truth, according to State Veterinarian Dr. Don Hansen of the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

HANSEN: Anytime they bring their animals to a commingling or a gathering, such as a fair or a show or some other exhibit, that they present their animals with a whole host of potential pathogens.

Hansen says it is important to practice good, common sense biosecurity for the safety of animals that participate.

HANSEN: They should not share feeding utensils, they shouldn't share grooming utensils between their animals and other animals. They should think about maybe watching their hands after they've handled someone else's animal or before they go handle someone else's animal.

The first step is making sure the animals are healthy before they attend the fair or show. The biosecurity doesn't end when the event is over. Owners need to isolate their animals from other animals back home for up to 14 days in case they are harboring a virus. Despite any concerns, Oregonians should feel free to embrace their county fair and other related events being held this summer. Hansen says livestock owners need to stay vigilant even after they bring their animals back from the fair or show.

HANSEN: The recommendation is probably 7 to 14 days of keeping those animals that you had at the fair or exhibit or show, keep them physically separate from the other animals at home.

Hansen says a recent outbreak of equine herpes virus in Oregon and other western states traced to a horse show in Utah this spring has run its course. His advice heading into the county fair season is much the same as any other year despite that outbreak.

HANSEN: The threat of a herpes virus reappearing is no more different now than it was before the Ogden show. There is always a small chance of it to reappear in a horse population during a show.

That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.