TENNESSEE URGES LIVESTOCK EXHIBITORS TO PRIORITIZE BIOSECURITY THIS FAIR SEASON
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division has launched the “Know Before You Show” campaign as fair and livestock show season nears. The initiative urges exhibitors, families, and fair managers to adopt basic biosecurity measures to stop disease spread and safeguard the state’s livestock industry.
State Veterinarian Samantha Beaty emphasized that everyone in animal agriculture plays a part in disease prevention, noting that healthy animals lead to better show experiences while protecting individual exhibitors, event attendees, and the wider agricultural community.
Livestock shows heightened disease transmission risks by gathering animals from various farms, where illnesses can spread through direct contact, shared equipment, or human movement. Common issues like pinkeye, warts, abscesses, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal conditions can spread rapidly without precautions. To minimize these risks, exhibitors should thoroughly inspect animals before events, isolate newcomers, disinfect trailers and gear, and continue monitoring and cleaning upon return to avoid infecting home herds.
The campaign provides practical guidance for steps before, during, and after shows, and recommends contacting a veterinarian immediately if signs of illness appear, such as fever, lethargy, eye ulcers, or unusual behavior. More details are available on the Animal Health Division’s “Know Before You Show” webpage.
