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State agriculture officials lift ban on bird displays at county fairs
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
State agriculture officials have lifted a ban on bird displays at county fairs and livestock auctions, ending the prohibitions a few months earlier than originally intended.
Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David Daniels and state veterinarian Tony Forshey announced the decision Thursday, with recommendations that poultry owners “remain vigilant and cautious” with their flocks.
“I would like to extend a sincere ‘thank you’ to OSU Extension and the youth exhibitors for their understanding and to their advisers for turning this unfortunate outbreak into an important educational moment,” Daniels said in a statement. “As I traveled around the state this summer, I was overwhelmed with the maturity and understanding of the disappointed but supportive young people I spoke with who were unable to bring their poultry projects to the fair. It’s a real testament to the strength and importance our 4-H and FFA programs in Ohio.”
The Ohio Department of Agriculture instituted the restrictions in June after an outbreak of avian flu in other states. Nearly 50 million chickens, turkeys and other birds were affected in what Forshey earlier called the “worst livestock disaster this country has ever seen financially.”
No cases of avian flu were confirmed in Ohio. State agriculture officials were wary of the autumn migration season, keeping close tabs on potential outbreaks of the virus, which is believed to be spread from migrating birds to domestic flocks.
An outbreak in Ohio would be devastating – the state is the second-largest egg producer in the country, with 28 million laying chickens. The state’s poultry industry employs more than 14,600 people and pumps $2.3 billion into the state’s economy, according to statistics compiled by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
In June, the agriculture department banned live bird displays at county fairs as a precaution against spreading the highly pathogenic avian flu. That left 4-H members scrambling for alternatives to display the results of their poultry projects.
The ban affected the 169th Canfield Fair, which took place from Sept. 2 through Labor Day. The impact of the department’s decision affected 20 to 25 exhibitors who bring in about 900 poultry exhibits every year. It also affected junior-fair projects at the fair.
The rooster has been the staple at the Canfield Fair since the inception of the rooster-crowing contest in 1962. A year later, the promotional slogan “Something to Crow About” was developed to get fairgoers interested in the contest.
“It was a big void for us last year, but it was something we had to do,” said Andy Frost Jr., who recently accepted the title as president of the Canfield Fair board of directors.
Frost said the board is thrilled the birds will be back.
Last month, the World Organization for Animal Health declared that the 2015 avian flu outbreaks in all affected states had been resolved.
The Ohio order initially was intended to remain in place through April, but Thursday’s decision opens the door to live bird displays at county and independent fairs, livestock auctions and other events.
“Ohio is home to more than 50 million domestic birds which makes our state particularly vulnerable to an outbreak,” Daniels said. “Thankfully, the disease never took hold here. I believe this is a justification of the steps taken by our producers and exhibitors to mitigate the risk of an outbreak.”
Contributor: Kalea Hall, staff writer.