Update on HPAI and Swine Health Rules

HPAI/Poultry Shows:

Since 2022, a PDA quarantine order has prohibited poultry, eggs, and poultry products (feathers, etc.) from being exhibited or sold at events receiving PDA Fair Funds. This order has remained in place due to the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in PA. For 4-H youth, this has meant that they cannot show their birds, exhibit eggs or poultry products, or sell their meat birds at youth livestock sales.  This quarantine order is about to be amended.  The important takeaways from the new health rules are as follows:

• Youth will be able to exhibit terminal market poultry (meat birds) ONLY. All birds will proceed directly to slaughter following the exhibition. Youth will also be able to exhibit eggs and products (such as feathers if feathers or poultry product crafts are categories your fair offers).  All normal poultry blood-testing requirements will apply.
• Meat birds and products may ONLY be shown IF there are no active HPAI control areas or surveillance zones in place in PA. In other words, if HPAI is detected ANYWHERE in PA and surveillance/control measures are in place as your fair approaches, your fair's meat bird, egg, and product exhibition opportunities will be Canceled.  Please note: This rule means that if there are ANY HPAI control measures in place ANYWHERE in PA, your fair will not be able to allow youth to show meat birds, eggs, or products.  The control measures do NOT have to be in place in your part of the state for the cancellation to occur. 
• If show opportunities are canceled, birds will not be able to be brought to fairs to be sold at youth livestock sales. If birds are not able to be sold at your fair's sale, direct marketing of birds to friends/family or processing birds for personal use remain available options. 
• Youth and families will need to understand the following when deciding to order/raise meat birds:
• They may not be able to show their meat birds.
• They may not be able to sell their meat birds at a youth livestock sale.
• They may not find out until the last minute that neither of these things can happen.
• They may have already paid to have birds blood-tested before they find out that they cannot bring their birds to the fair.

If more information on HPAI and fairs is available, the State 4-H Office will share it immediately.

Swine Health Rules:

The PDA rules pertaining to preventing the spread of African Swine Fever* are still in place for the 2024 fair season. This means that all market swine exhibited at any event that receives PDA Fair Funds are terminal and must proceed directly to slaughter immediately following the event.  The change to this rule pertains to Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs, also sometimes referred to as health certificates) for swine: 

• In the recent past, swine were required to have a CVI issued by a veterinarian within 14 days of the start of the fair at which they were being exhibited.  This year, swine must have a CVI issued within 30 days of the start of the fair.  This rule change will make it easier for busy local veterinarians to book and perform swine inspections as fairs approach.

*Although African Swine Fever has never been detected in the United States, it is a disease that would devastate the swine industry if it were to arrive in this country.  

If you have questions about either HPAI rules or African Swine Fever control measures, please don't hesitate to reach out to 4-H Animal Science Specialist Kirsten Dubbs (kdubbs@psu.edu, or 814-865-0399)!