Preparing for a Safe Livestock Fair

Kalamazoo, Mich.- Due to the Barry County Swine Influenza breakout during the Barry County Fair, Kalamazoo County 4-H Youth Program and the Kalamazoo County Fair Board are taking extra precautions to prevent a similar incident. All barns at the fairgrounds are being disinfected prior to any animals arriving and a veterinarian or swine superintendent will check each hog prior to unloading. If the veterinarian determines a hog is ill, it will be sent home as well as any hogs that come into contact with it.

In addition, all animals will be more closely monitored during fair week and an on-call veterinarian will be available at all times. Livestock superintendents have instructed all youth in proper bio-security practices such as not sharing feed pans between animals.

Swine influenza is a respiratory disease that impacts hogs. The industry deals with this virus on a routine basis. The virus is most likely spread from hog to hog through contact with infected mucous secretions. If a hog contracts swine influenza, the meat quality is not directly impacted by the virus and is safe for human consumption.

The Barry County swine influenza incident involved 14 animals that showed the following symptoms of: running a fever, not eating properly and lethargy. The Barry County Extension staff and the Barry County Fair Board initiated a voluntary quarantine to minimize any further transmission of the swine influenza. Contact with the Barry County Agriculture Extension Educator, Dennis Pennington, today indicated all the animals have been cleared for processing.

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For more information about 4-H Youth Programs, contact Kristin Beck, 4-H Youth Programs Educator at the Kalamazoo County Michigan State University Extension office (269) 383-8648 or email the MSU Extension office in Kalamazoo at msue39@msu.edu

MSU Extension is an Affirmative-Action Equal-Opportunity Institution. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status.

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