Fairs across the state have been working hard to keep their animals safe and healthy following the spread of avian flu to Michigan. The outbreak has now been detected in dairy cattle as well as poultry.
The Missaukee Agricultural Youth Show is fast approaching, and some things have had to change.
The first fair event, a poultry show, was scheduled for May 18, but was cancelled following the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s poultry exhibition requirements.
MDARDs poultry and dairy cattle exhibition requirements took affect May 8 and currently have no end date. Poultry is prohibited from exhibition until no new cases of HPAI are detected in the state for 30 consecutive days.
All lactating dairy cattle and those within the last two months of their pregnancies are prohibited from exhibition until no new cases are detected in the state for 60 consecutive days.
The Missaukee Agricultural Youth Show’s president, Susan Beerens, says they are preparing to cancel dairy cattle exhibition at the fair. Beerens says dairy cattle are being tested as they leave Michigan.
“As we continue to test, we're going to continue to find positives,” said Beerens.
Despite their optimism, the youth show has been working on alternative ways for youth to show their poultry projects. Stuffed poultry will be used, and youth will have the opportunity to sell a picture of their animal.
“The poultry kids already have all the financial cost into it and if they're not able to sell those animals, then they lose out on that income that they would normally bring in,” said Beerens.
With the expectation of cancelling the dairy cattle exhibitions, dairy themed activities and opportunities for education are being discussed. Virtual showmanship has been discussed but Beerens says she doesn’t know if the kids will choose that option.
“We're letting our kids be the ones to decide how they want to run their department of the fair,” said Beerens.
The biosecurity measures recommended by MDARD were nothing new to the youth show facilities. According to Beerens, the children are taught about the importance of biosecurity on farms and are familiar with the practices.
Beerens also says the children are disappointed that they won’t be able to show their poultry and dairy cattle projects, but they understand why.
“I think that all the farmers in the area understand the risks and they don’t really want their cattle at fair anyway,” said Beerens. “So, I think the children understand that its about the safety of the animals and the safety of the people and that’s why were not bringing them in.”
Much is still unknown about the spread of HPAI, how it affects dairy cattle and the risks to human health. In an MDARD press release from May 30, a second human case of HPAI in Michigan was announced.
Michigan's Chief Medical Executive, Natasha Bagdasarian, says that both human cases in Michigan were the result of direct exposure to infected livestock. “We have not seen signs of sustained human-to-human transmission, and the current health risk to the general public remains low,” Bagdasarian said.
