Office of State Veterinarian

• Protect the health and welfare of Kentucky's livestock, poultry and agricultural industries
• Promote an environment that enhances the economic and recreational opportunities and prosperity of Kentucky agriculture

KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SEEKING TO HIRE STATE VET - AUGUST 20, 2020

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is seeking to hire a new State Veterinarian to serve as the chief animal agriculture health official in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and as a liaison to Kentucky’s livestock and commodity groups. Candidates are required to have at least five years of experience in the practice of veterinary medicine and will be required to maintain licensure with the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners and hold USDA-APHIS Category II Accreditation. Preference may be given to candidates with regulatory experience in the management of animal health programs, epidemiology, emergency management/response, foreign animal disease investigations, and animal welfare regulations. To learn more, please click here.

NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK EXPOSITION (NAILE) ENTRY PERMIT POLICY - October 18, 2019

1. Effective immediately, all livestock, other than swine, entering the Commonwealth of Kentucky that require an entry permit for participation in the NAILE shall enter under a blanket permit. The blanket permit for this movement shall be NAILE19.
2. Swine entering the Commonwealth of Kentucky for participation in the NAILE shall require a Certificate of Veterinary inspection (CVI), commonly referred to as a health certificate, and an entry permit issued within seven (7) days of entry.
3. All swine entering the Commonwealth of Kentucky for any purpose other exhibition shall require a CVI issued within 30 days of entry and an entry permit.

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Vesicular Stomatitis (2019) - Updated 6/25/2019

• - We have been made aware of premises in two Texas Counties as having had cases vesicular stomatis confirmed.
• - Our Position Today: The Kentucky Department of Agriculture currently has no Vesicular Stomatitis restrictions nor testing requirements imposed resulting from the diagnosis of vesicular stomatitis in other states.
• - Premises which are identified as affected are being placed under movement restrictions by the appropriate regulatory officials in the affected state(s). We recognize those efforts as having been proven effective in helping to mitigate risk to our populations and industry.
• - Click for USDA's Most Recent VS Updates and Current Situation Reports

 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR SWINE SHOWS - May 24, 2019

The following shall apply to all swine entry into Kentucky for exhibition:

• -A CVI shall be issued within seven (7) days of the show.
• -A permit shall be issued within seven (7) days of the show.
• -An affidavit shall be signed stating that the animal has not been sick within seven (7) days of the show, and no family member has exhibited flu-like signs within seven (7) days of the show.

 

POULTRY SWAP MEET UPDATE - April 18, 2017

On Friday, 14 April 2017, Dr. Robert Stout, the Kentucky State Veterinarian, announced the release of the surveillance zones for the Christian County (Kentucky) Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus outbreak. Testing in the surveillance zone showed negative results, giving confidence in an absence of the virus in the area.

 

After review of the disease status in Kentucky and other states with incidents of the virus as well as current and predicted environmental conditions, the Kentucky State Veterinarian is releasing restrictions on commingling poultry sales and exhibitions. Effective immediately, poultry restrictions issued on 21 March 2017 are rescinded. All sales and exhibitions must be conducted in compliance with Kentucky statutes and regulations. The Kentucky State Veterinarian reminds all poultry owners to practice strict biosecurity and to be conscious of disease threats.

 

POULTRY SWAP MEET RESTRICTION - March 21, 2017

Dear Stakeholder:

Avian Influenza, commonly referred to as “Bird Flu”, is a highly contagious virus that affects domestic poultry and is believed to be spread by migrating wild birds. Transmission of Avian Influenza is primarily lateral, meaning that it spreads from bird to bird through direct or indirect contact. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the virus in its Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) form in Tennessee in early March 2017. Additionally, the virus was found in its Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) form at a flea market in Alabama and traced to a backyard premises. On March 17, 2017 the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) and USDA APHIS confirmed a presumptive positive test on poultry for LPAI in Kentucky. LPAI can convert to HPAI in poultry causing severe death loss in flocks.

In an effort to protect Kentucky’s backyard poultry, KDA’s Office of the State Veterinarian (OSV) is placing restrictions on movement of poultry in Kentucky. The KDA OSV anticipates these protective measures to be temporary and will be amended as disease and environmental conditions dictate.     
Effective this date, the following restrictions are imposed on poultry movements:

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Office of the State Veterinarian understands that these restrictions may adversely impact some individuals.  After much consideration, it has been determined these restrictions are necessary to address the risk posed by this highly infective virus. We will continue to monitor this situation and make regulatory adjustments as necessary to protect Kentucky’s poultry.

Sincerely,

Robert C. Stout, DVM
State Veterinarian/Executive Director

 

Kentucky Poultry Ban UPDATE - 2/11/2016

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) Office of the State Veterinarian (OSV) will relax the currently imposed restrictions on poultry movement on February 22, 2016.

Previously issued Commingled Sales Event permits will be valid for the issued timeframe. Organizers with previously issued permits will be allowed to conduct commingled sales events based on the original issue date.

The KDA OSV will continue to monitor the threat to Kentucky poultry from Avian Influenza and other diseases and amend the movement restrictions as necessary.

Please comply with the movement requirements implemented below.

1. Sale of poultry at licensed livestock markets may resume on February 22, 2016. All sales shall be in compliance with KRS 261 and 302 KAR 20:070.
2. Sale of poultry at unlicensed commingling sales venues such as swap meets and flea markets and sales at shows are allowed with the following requirements:
   a. An individual or business conducting unlicensed commingling poultry sales shall obtain a permit   from the Kentucky Office of the State Veterinarian no later than 30 days prior to the event. Permits shall be issued at no fee.
   b. The permittee shall be responsible to:

i. Maintain a registry of all participants in the commingling sales event. This registry must include (at a minimum) the name, address from which the animals were moved, and contact information of the participant (consignor).

ii. Maintain records of sales and barters of all animals sold or exchanged at the event. Records must include the name, address, and contact information of the consignor and consignee.

iii. Submit to the Office of the State Veterinarian a report of all participants and animal exchanges no later than 7 days after the event. The Poultry Record of Sales form will be provided by the Office of the State Veterinarian and is available on the KY OSV website at http://www.kyagr.com/statevet/livestock-and-poultry.html.

   c. KDA personnel shall have access to the venue to conduct inspection of all animals for health and regulatory compliance.
3. Private sale with direct farm to farm movement within Kentucky is allowed in accordance with 302 KAR 20:065.
4. Entry of non-commercial/backyard (NC/BY) poultry into Kentucky for sale is restricted to NPIP Avian Influenza H5/H7 clean facilities only; entry from facilities within a HPAI control zone is banned.
5. Entry of Non Commercial/Backyard poultry from certified NPIP facilities within an HPAI infected state shall meet 302 KAR 20:250 requirements.
6. Entry of Non Commercial/Backyard poultry for private sale or movement shall be in compliance with 302 KAR 20:040.
7. Game bird/waterfowl permit applications shall originate from a NPIP facility that meets the requirements listed in 4 and 5 of this memo. Additionally, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources requires a transportation permit obtained from them.
8. Exhibition events, shows, and fairs will be open to out of state participants. Entry from out of state shall be in compliance with 302 KAR 20:040. All birds presented for exhibition shall be subject to inspection by Kentucky Department of Agriculture personnel.

Sincerely,

Robert C. Stout, DVM
State Veterinarian/Executive Director

 

Vesicular Stomatitis (2015) - Updated 5/21/2015

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture has no Vesicular stomatitis restrictions nor any additional testing requirements resulting from the diagnosis of vesicular stomatitis being diagnosed in other states.  Premises which are identified as affected will be placed under movement restrictions by the appropriate regulatory officials in the affected state.  We recognize those efforts as having been proven effective in helping to mitigate risk to our populations and industry.

 

States previously or currently having premises quarantined:

 

- Texas
On May 18, 2015, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa confirmed a finding of VSV infection (New Jersey serotype) on an equine premises in Pecos County, Texas.  This is the 2015 index case of VSV for Texas.  Additional confirmed and suspect VSV premises have been identified in both Arizona and New Mexico in known affected counties. 

 

- Utah
As of May 14, 2015, all VSV-confirmed and suspect premises have been released from quarantine in Utah.

- New Mexico

On April 29, 2015, USDA issued advisory stating vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection has been confirmed in Grant County, New Mexico and that a second premises (Otero County, New Mexico) has a suspect case pending.

- Arizona and Utah
On May 4, 2015, USDA issued advisory stating vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection had been confirmed in Maricopa County, Arizona and Kane County, Utah. 
click for USDA's Most Recent VS Update

 

Contact the USDA

• The USDA Import Number (animals coming into Kentucky from another country) is 301-851-3300.  The email address is:  VS.Live.Animal.Import.Export@aphis.usda.gov
• For information on Exporting animals out of the country, contact USDA Veterinary Services at 502-848-2040.
• The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP):

  The VMLRP will pay up to $25,000 each year towards qualified educational loans of eligible veterinarians who agree to serve in a NIFA designated veterinarian shortage situations for a period of three years.

  The Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Office of the State Veterinarian is requested in the early part of each year to make the shortage area nominations for the State and to designate the type of shortage (Type I, Type II or Type III) for each area. These nominations are reviewed by the NIFA program and all or a portion of the areas will be approved and posted on the NIFA site listed above. Once the areas are designated veterinarians make application directly to NIFA to fill one of the designated areas. There are specific deadlines for applications that are listed on the NIFA site each year.

Additional Links

• Livestock Care Standards (Chapter 21)