FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER SERVICES

Rules of the State of Florida CHAPTER 5C-4
Admission of Animals for Exhibition
Intrastate Guidelines Covering Exhibition Animals

IMPORTANT:
These Rules & Guidelines are being revised. Please continue to check our web site for up-to-date information. Or, send stamped self addresses envelope for updated version to:
South Florida Fair/Livestock Dept.
P.O. Box 210367
West Palm Beach, FL 33421-0367

SC-4.001 General Requirements and Limitations
(1) Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) Required. All animals for exhibition in Florida, unless specifically exempted, must be accompanied by an OCVI issued by a veterinarian accredited in the state of origin.

(a) The OCVI must be complete including the breed, names and registration number, and permanent identification such as tattoo, eartag number, microchip number, or brand.
(b) Results of a specific test requirement or head certification or validation number for each animal must be recorded on the OCVI with the date of the test or herd certification or validation.

(2) For exhibition purposes only, an OCVI is valid for 90 days from the date of issue; or until the expiration date of any required tests, whichever is the earliest date. For importation into the State, OCVI is valid for 30 days pursuant to Rule 5C-3.002(1)(c).

(3) Exception to Required OCVI. An OCVI is not required for animals originating in the State of Florida and entered in market classes provided that the animals are segregated from other animals, and the pens are occupied only by the animals in a market class. Pens used for market classes must not be reused until after cleaning and disinfecting.

(4) Prior to acceptance of the exhibition, all animals presented for exhibition must be visually inspected by a veterinarian licensed by the State of Florida, or by a Department representative for:

(a) The required identification of the animal;
(b) Clinical signs of disease; and
(c) Evidence of compliance with test requirements.

(5) Any animal which has clinical signs of contagious or infectious disease on visual inspection or any animal which is known to be exposed must be:

(a) Withdrawn from exhibition and returned to the place of origin, or
(b) Examined at the owner’s expense within 24 hours by a veterinarian licensed in the State of Florida which certifies by a signed written statement that the animal is free of contagious or infectious disease.

(6) All vehicles transporting animals for exhibition in Florida shall be cleaned and disinfected prior to the loading of such animals.

5C-4.0015 Definitions. For the purpose of this Chapter the following definitions shall apply:
(1) Accredited veterinarian. A licensed veterinarian who has been approved to perform certain functions of the federal and cooperative federal-state programs by the Deputy Administrator, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, in accordance with the provisions of 9CFR 161 (1993).

(2) Animal(s). This term shall include:

(a) Livestock including grazing animals, such as cattle, horses, sheep, swine, goats, and other hoofed animals;
(b) Ratites, limited to ostriches, emus, and rheas;
(c) Domesticated fowl which are propagated or maintained for commercial, exhibition, or breeding purposes, or as pets; and
(d) Wild or game animals which may threaten the agricultural interests of the state.

(3) Department Representative. An employee of the Department who is authorized to perform animal health regulatory activities regarding the prevention, control and eradication of certain infectious or communicable diseases of animals.

(4) Exhibition. An assembly of animals for the purpose of competition or public presentation including but not limited to fairs, shows, and rodeo events.

(5) Group. One or more animals maintained on the same premises or in contact.

(6) Horse. Any horse, mule, ass, zebra or other equidae.

(7) Isolation. Separation of individual animals by a physical barrier in a manner that assures one animal does not have access to the body, excrement, or discharges of another animal; does not share a building with a common ventilation system; and is not within ten feet of another animal.

(8) Market Class. An exhibition class consisting of finished fed animals where all animals in the class go directly to slaughter immediately following the exhibition.

(9) Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI). An official form approved by the senior animal heath official of the state of origin or an equivalent form from the USDA, which is a complete and legible certificate issued by a veterinarian who is licensed and accredited in the state of origin.

(10) Official Test. A test conducted by a method approved by Department rules for the specific disease and animal species.

(11) Segregated. The maintenance of one group of animals so as to prevent physical contact with another group of animals.

(12) Materials. Title 9 CFR 161 (1993) is hereby incorporated by reference. Copies may be obtained from the United States Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents. Mail Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328.

5C-4.002 Cattle
Effective June 13, 2001, USDA, APHIS, VS, recognized Florida as a Cattle Brucellosis Class “Free” State.
1. OCVI Required. Cattle for exhibition must be accompanied by an OCVI dated not more than 90 days prior to presentation and must be accompanied by evidence of completion of the test requirements or certifications listed in 5C-4.002(2).

2. Test or Certification Required.

(a) Tuberculosis.
1. Cattle may be entered for exhibition without a tuberculin test provided the OCVI identifies the cattle as originating from a Tuberculosis-Free State as defined in rule 5C-7.016(3), Florida Administrative Code, and Accredited Tuberculosis-Free Herd, as defined in rule 5C-7.016(1), Florida Administrative Code, or a herd not under quarantine in a Modified Accredited Tuberculosis State, as defined in rule 5C-7.016(23), Florida Administrative Code. When accredited, the herd accreditation number must be recorded on the
OCVI.
2. Other cattle may be entered for exhibition provided the cattle originated from a herd not under quarantine and have a negative test within 30 days prior to the date of the exhibition.
3. A positive test on any animal in a designated group, disqualifies all animals of the group from exhibition.
(b) Brucellosis
1. Vaccination Required. All female dairy cattle four months of age or older born after Jan. 1, 1984 must be officially calfhood vaccinated.
2. Test Required. Cattle from herds not under quarantine in Class A areas must have evidence of a negative test within 30 days prior to the date of exhibition.
3. Exemption from Required Test.
a. Steers and spayed heifers are exempt from the brucellosis test requirement.
b. Cattle identified on the OCVI as originating from a Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd, as defined in Rule 5C-6.002, Florida Administrative Code, or a Class Free Area, as defined in Rule 5C-6.0031(4)(c)3., Florida Administrative Code, are exempt from the brucellosis test requirement. When certified, the herd certification number must be recorded on the OCVI.
c. Cattle from non-quarantined herds originating from Class A areas are exempt from Brucellosis test requirements provided that cattle are:
1. Under 18 months of age; or
2. Official calfhood vaccinates of beef breeds under 24 months of age; or
3. Official calfhood vaccinates of dairy herds under 20 months of age; and
4. Not parturient or post parturient.
Note on Dairy Cattle: Prior to issuance of OCVI, dairy cattle that have not been vaccinated against Brucellosis must have proof of negative Brucellosis test within 30 days. This will remain valid, for exhibition, for 90 days.

5C-4.003 Swine
1. OCVI Required. All breeding swine for exhibition must be accompanied by an OCVI dated not more than 90 days prior to presentation and must be accompanied by evidence of completion of the requirements or certification listed in 5C-4.003(2).

2. Test or Certification Required.

(a) Brucellosis. All breeding swine over 6 months of age entered for exhibition, excluding barrows and gilts in market classes, must originate from a Validated Brucellosis-Free Herd, as defined in rule 5C-6.008 Florida Administrative Code, or must be recorded negative to a Brucellosis test within 30 days of exhibition. When validated, the validated herd number must be on OCVI.
(b) Pseudorabies. All breeding swine over 6 months of age entered for exhibition, excluding barrows and gilts in market classes, must originate from a Qualified Pseudorabies-Free Herd, as defined in rule 5C-21.005(2), Florida Administrative Code, or must be negative to a pseudorabies test within 30 days of exhibition. When qualified, the qualified herd number must be on OCVI.

3. Isolation. Swine returning to the farm from exhibitions must be isolated from other swine at least 30 days before being returned to the herd. Breeding swine for exhibition must be maintained in isolation between exhibitions or moved directly between exhibitions.

5C-4.004 Poultry, Domestic Fowl and Ratites
Poultry, Domestic Fowl and Ratites must originate from a Pullorum-Typhoid Clean flock or hatchery, as defined in rule 5C-16.008, Florida Administrative Code, or have a negative pullorum-typhoid test within 90 days prior to exhibition. Birds presented for exhibition without pullorum-typhoid test must be tested on site as provided in 5C-4001(4).

5C-4.005 Goats & 5C-4.007 Sheep
1. OCVI Required. Goats and sheep for exhibition must be accompanied by an OCVI dated not more than 90 days prior to presentation.
2. Tests Required.

(a) Tuberculosis: Goats & sheep over 6 months of age must have a negative Tuberculin test within 90 days or originated from an Accredited Tuberculosis-Free herd, as defined in rule 5C-7.016(1) Florida Administrative Code. If from an accredited herd, the herd number must be recorded on the OCVI.
(b) Brucellosis: Goats & sheep over 6 months of age must be negative to a Brucellosis test within 90 days or originated from a Certified Brucellosis-Free herd, as defined in rule 5C-6.002, Florida Administrative Code. If from a certified herd, the herd number must be recorded on the OCVI.
NOTE: the permanent identification number of each animal must be included on the OCVI. The OCVI must include a statement that each sheep or goat is free of the clinical signs of the diseases: caseous lymphadenitis, contagious ecthyma (Orf), chlamydial keratoconjunctivitis, contagious footrot, scabies, and scrapie.