Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair Requires New Avian Flu Testing

Poultry exhibitors will be paying higher fees to show this year because of the Avian Influenza outbreak. Exhibitors of the Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair in Fort Smith will need their poultry tested for the disease and have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. 

 

 

With concerns over the cost of testing for 4-H and FFA members, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has developed a solution. Dr. Rod Hall, State Veterinarian of Oklahoma said the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission Laboratory have agreed to lower their Avian Influenza testing fee to $10 per test. The labs require at least a week for testing.

Video: Episode 107: Think you have a closed herd?

Surveys show many producers believe they operate a closed herd, but what does “closed” really mean? For some, it simply means being genetically closed by raising their own replacements and cleanup bulls, using artificial insemination for new genetics and avoiding the purchase of outsourced cattle. However, being a truly closed herd goes far beyond genetics. A closed herd also works to eliminate as many potential sources of disease introduction as possible. In this episode, we take a closer look at what it truly means to run a closed herd.