GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EXHIBITORS OF ALL ANIMAL SPECIES (COMAR 15.11.14.04-06)

Exhibitors at state, county, and district fairs, along with other livestock exhibitions, expositions, and shows are required to comply with regulatory provisions of the State of Maryland relating to animal health as noted in COMAR 15.11.14.04-06. Requirements apply to all livestock.

1. DOCUMENTATION: Documentation is required for entry of all livestock and is described below.  Examples of forms are at: https://mda.maryland.gov/AnimalHealth/Pages/Fairs-Shows.aspx

For out-of-state animals, see species specific out of state requirements. Upon request, a person who exhibits livestock shall present for inspection all reports, test charts, and appropriate health certificates required to accompany the livestock and poultry.

2. CERTIFICATE OF VETERINARY INSPECTION is required for most entries.

a. MARYLAND ENTRIES:  All Maryland entries must be accompanied by a Maryland Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) for show.

• The Maryland CVI is valid for 120 days for fairs and shows, providing that the status of the herd or animal(s) does not change.

• The Maryland CVI is a legible record, made on an official Maryland State form, issued by a Maryland accredited veterinarian, issued for animals being shown within the state and not crossing a state line, which shows that the animals listed thereon meet the health requirements of the state of Maryland.

• The Maryland CVI must be completed and signed by a Maryland accredited veterinarian using the proper selected report on the CVI form. Each animal must be properly identified on the CVI. The veterinarian must select if this document is for fair and exhibition season, sale or other (with explanation).

• The veterinarian is required to send the original (white and canary) copies to MDA Headquarters within 7 days of completion, the middle (pink) transport copy is to be retained by the owner and should accompany livestock during travel. The last (goldenrod) copy is for the veterinarian’s records.

b. OUT-OF-STATE ENTRIES:  All out-of-state entries must be accompanied by an Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, except poultry and rabbits.

• The Interstate CVI is valid for no more than 30 days from the date of inspection.

• An Interstate CVI must be legible, made on an official form of the state of origin, issued by an accredited veterinarian, and issued for animals being imported to this state within 30 days before the entry of the animals, which shows that the animals listed thereon meet the health requirements of the state of Maryland.

3. SELF-CERTIFICATION: A completed Self-Certification is required for all entries except for equine entering equine-only events.

Self-Certification forms must be filled out within 24 hours prior to loading and presented upon request to the designated representative.

• A Self-Certification is an official Maryland document signed by the owner/caretaker/transporter stating that the animals presented for exhibition are not showing any signs of or having recent exposure to (within 21 days) infectious or contagious diseases.

• Self-Certification forms are species-specific for livestock. These forms are available on MDA’s Animal Health website: http://mda.maryland.gov/animalhealth/pages/fairs-shows.aspx

4. TEST REPORT FORMS. Testing is required for some species, and if so, a test report form will be required unless otherwise documented on the CVI. See species-specific requirements for details of testing and test report requirements.

5. Pertains to Poultry

6. ANIMAL REJECTION POLICY.   Animals may be rejected from an exhibition, either denied entry or removed from the exhibition, as described below:

a. FAILURE TO PROVIDE COMPLETED DOCUMENTATION IS GROUNDS FOR REJECTION.

b. FOR A SKIN LESION SUSPICIOUS OF RINGWORM TO BE CONSIDERED NO LONGER CONTAGIOUS TO OTHER ANIMALS OR PEOPLE, NEW WOOL OR HAIR MUST COMPLETELY COVER THAT LESION.

c. Livestock with clinical signs of infectious or contagious diseases or external parasites are not permitted entry or allowed to remain at the exhibition.  Clinical signs include but are not limited to: active lesions of ringworm with resulting loss of hair, sore mouth, sore nose, caseous lymphadenitis, mange, or multiple warts easily visible without close examination.

d. Suspicion of communicable disease is adequate grounds for rejection. Confirmed diagnosis is not required, since timely removal of suspicious animals is required by law to protect the remaining animals.

e. Exposed animals may be rejected: If it is believed that there is a potentially serious communicable disease present, all animals originating with the suspect animal may be rejected.  Vesicular diseases are of particular concern.

f. All decisions are final.

g. All parties involved will be notified of all rejections, including exhibit sponsors and supervisors.

h. Animal rejections can be made by MDA Animal Health veterinarians or field inspectors, private veterinarians contracted by the show, Maryland Extension employees, or individuals designated by the fair or show as a ‘responsible person.’

Additional Requirements

IDENTIFICATION: INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFICATION OF EACH ANIMAL SHALL BE AN EID or RFID 840 OFFICIAL EAR TAG. Cattle with non-electronic ID tags will be dismissed upon entry. 

Maryland Cattle 

Brucellosis: Maryland is a Bovine Brucellosis Class-Free State. Brucellosis testing is not required for Maryland cattle.

Tuberculosis: Maryland is an Accredited Tuberculosis-Free State. Tuberculin test is not required for Maryland cattle. 

Immunization: Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex vaccination is required for all Maryland cattle to include Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Bovine Viral Diarrhea virus, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis and Parainfluenza. Leptospirosis vaccination is recommended.  

Out-of-State Cattle 

Brucellosis

1. Bovine Brucellosis Class-Free State, Region or Zone

a. No brucellosis test required.

2. Non-Bovine Brucellosis Class-Free State, Region or Zone

a. Official vaccinates under 24 months old with vaccination dates recorded on the Interstate CVI permitted, or

b. Test negative within 30 days before entry.

Tuberculosis

1. Accredited Tuberculosis-Free State, Region or Zone

a. No tuberculin test required.

2. Modified Accredited Advanced or lower Tuberculosis Free Areas or States (Not TB Free)

a. All cattle over 6 months of age shall comply with the following:

i. Cattle must originate from a herd where a complete herd test was conducted within the past 12 months; progeny from such herds born since that test may be imported without a tuberculin test, or

ii. Any individual animal, over 6 months of age, entering Maryland must have a negative tuberculin test within 60 days before import.

b. Status of herd and area must be shown on certificate.