Again this year, youth wanting to exhibit hogs at the Adams County Fair will need to complete an identification form for each of their market hogs and attach at least two color photos, one of each side of the hog. Exhibitors and their families will also be expected to tag their hogs with official Adams County Fair ear tags provided through OSU Extension Adams County. The tag must be shown in one of the color photos, and the tag number must be clearly written on the form. Any ear notches must also be recorded on the form.
This procedure, begun in 2014, is due to continuing concerns about the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv). This viral disease is working its way through the United States. PEDv typically results in acute outbreaks of severe diarrhea, vomiting and variable mortality (up to 100%) in young pigs. PEDv is a major concern for hog producers, both here in Adams County and across the country.
Research has identified transportation and points of swine concentration (such as bringing pigs to the fairgrounds for tagging) to be key sites of virus contamination and subsequent routes of exposure to swine herds. At the recommendation of the Ohio Department of Agriculture and area swine producers, the members of the Senior Fair Board voted in January to continue this system of verifying that members have possession of their market hogs by the deadline. The system is an example of a “best practice” due to the biosecurity concerns associated with the PEDv.
There are currently no interstate trade restrictions pertaining to PEDv in the United States. It is not a zoonotic disease, which means that it does not affect people. There are no food safety concerns related to PEDv. Visit http://www.pork.org/Home.aspx for more information regarding PEDv.
The 2015 possession deadline for market hogs is April 15. The form will ask exhibitors for information regarding when and where they purchased their animal or for the date of birth if the hog is farm bred and raised.
Forms and official Adams County Fair ear tags may be picked up at the Market Hog Clinic on March 7 or at OSU Extension Adams County during regular business hours beginning Monday, March 9. An advisor, friend, or parent may pick up forms and tags. Exhibitors do not have to pick them up themselves. Taggers may be borrowed from Junior Fair Board, at the Extension office, on a first come, first served basis. Borrowed taggers must be returned within 48 hours and must be sanitized both before and after use. Tags should be placed in the animal’s left ear, unless there is a special circumstance, which should be noted on the form.
Completed forms, with all required photos and documentation, will be due back to the Extension office by 4:00 pm on Wednesday, April 15. No late forms will be accepted. Failure to tag their hogs and submit a completed form, with all required photos and documentation, by the deadline will mean that the member is not eligible to exhibit market hogs at the 2015 Fair.
No pre-fair weights will be collected on market hogs, since there will not be a centralized tagging and weigh-in. Therefore, there will not be a Market Hog Production Champion in 2015. Only skillathon, show ring, and showmanship placings will be used when calculating Outstanding Market Exhibitor scores for hog exhibitors this year.
Questions or concerns about the Market Hog Identification System for 2015 may be addressed to Carolyn L. Belczyk at OSU Extension Adams County (937.544.2339 or via email at belczyk.1@osu.edu) or to any of the Senior Fair Board Swine Committee members: Roy Cooper, Chair, Marty Sonner, or Jason Hesler.