SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — As the 2017 Illinois State Fair approaches we would like to remind all livestock exhibitors to keep a close eye on the health of their animals.
Before any animals are taken to county fairs or the State Fair, please observe the health of not only the exhibition animals, but your entire herd. If any animal shows signs or symptoms of an illness, contact your veterinarian immediately before transporting them to a fair.
“It is a high priority of the Department to ensure that all animals are healthy before, during, and after they return home from county or State Fairs,” says Dr. Mark Ernst, State Veterinarian for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. “We count on exhibitors to keep a close watch on their animals and take appropriate veterinary action when needed to ensure that their herd is healthy before bringing anything to a fair.”
The Illinois Department of Agriculture is dedicated to preventing the spread of any illness or disease between animals and asks that all animal caretakers assist us in this process. Two simple proactive measures that can be taken are having strict biosecurity measures and washing your hands frequently before and after working with animals.
For more information, including swine specifics, go to the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Welfare webpage at https://www.agr.state.il.us/
— Illinois Department of Agriculture and Illinois State Fair
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