Purdue News

April 9, 1999 New state regulations affect 4-H swine projects WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Indiana 4-H swine project members should be aware of a new state regulation regarding pseudorabies vaccinations that could prevent them from exhibiting swine at either the county or state level. As of Jan. 10, all swine located within a two-mile radius of a pseudorabies-quarantined herd must be vaccinated for the disease. This policy applies to the location where the animals are housed, not the 4-H member's home address. An older state regulation does not allow pseudorabies-vaccinated swine to be either exhibited or sold. However, the Indiana Board of Animal Health has revised this regulation for 4-H shows. Vaccinated barrows only can be shown at county fairs, but vaccinated swine cannot be exhibited at the Indiana State Fair. Counties also may opt to follow the regulation that excludes any vaccinated swine from exhibition. In these cases, county rules will take precedence over the state policy. "We're allowing barrows to still be exhibited so that we don't automatically lock out every 4-H'er in a quarantined area," said Denise Derrer of the Indiana Board of Animal Health. "With barrows, there is no risk that the disease will be returned to the farm with breeding stock." At least two counties that have quarantined herds throughout their jurisdictions -- Carroll and Howard counties -- have received approval from the state board of animal health to hold slaughter-only shows. In those counties, both vaccinated gilts and barrows may be shown at the county show, but all animals must then be sold for slaughter at the livestock auction. No pigs can return to the farm. 4-H'ers in those counties who are not affected by the two-mile radius will not be able to show their pigs at the county fair if they want to show them at the State Fair. "The infected herds are scattered enough that we don't have very many areas outside the two-mile quarantine radius," said Steve Nichols, Carroll County Extension educator. "About three-quarters of our 4-H'ers who show pigs are affected. The slaughter-only show is the best solution for the majority of our 4-H'ers." Youths should check with their county Extension educator for specific requirements to show hogs in their county and to determine whether the site where their swine are housed is outside the two-mile radius of a quarantined herd, said Clint Rusk, 4-H Youth Extension specialist at Purdue University. "County educators have maps that show the locations of the quarantined herds. If the area where you normally keep your 4-H pigs is within a two-mile radius of a quarantined swine herd and you do not want to vaccinate, you should consider finding an alternate site to raise your 4-H pigs this year," Rusk said. "Be sure to consult with your local Extension educator to see if this is allowed in your county. Even if your hogs are housed in a county with no reported quarantines, they may still fall within a two-mile radius of a quarantined herd in a neighboring county." Hogs are the natural host for pseudorabies, a viral disease that affects their respiratory, reproductive and central nervous systems and can result in death. Although pseudorabies can affect other animals, it cannot be transmitted to humans. The new regulations, which were developed with input and support from Indiana's swine industry, are part of the state's response to the nationwide effort to wipe out pseudorabies by the year 2000, Derrer said. Indiana ranks in the top three states nationally in the number of pseudorabies quarantines with 170 herds in 21 counties. Information on Indiana's eradication program and quarantined sites is available from the Indiana Board of Animal Health Web site or (317) 227-031. Sources: Steve Nichols, (765) 564-3169; steve_nichols@ces.purdue.edu Clint Rusk, (765) 494-8427; cr@four-h.purdue.edu Denise Derrer, (317) 227-0308 Writer: Olivia Maddox, (765) 496-3207; om@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page