Imagine visiting the Stanislaus County Fair this summer and the dairy and poultry barns are empty. That might be reality come July, as State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones implemented a ban last week on all California poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at fairs and shows effective immediately.
The ban was issued due to the continued spread of H5N1 bird flu across the state. Since August 2024, there have been over 700 dairy herds and 60 poultry flocks with over 15 million birds affected by bird flu. As of Friday, there have been 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1 in the United States and one death associated with the bird flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Of those confirmed human cases, 37 were in California with 36 having exposure from dairy herds and one case with an unknown exposure source.
“This action is required to minimize the danger of exposing people and non-infected cows and birds to the disease,” said Dr. Jones in a released statement.
While the thought of the fair with no dairy cattle is shocking to many longtime Stanislaus County Fair exhibitors and attendees, Fair Board President Jack Wilkey said it’s too early to panic.
“I believe there is still a good chance that we could have cattle shows at the fair,” Wilkey said, stating that he and other members of the fair board are getting regular updates from the state on the status of the bird flu. “Let’s just wait and see.”
“If they ban livestock or dairy, it will impact the fair. But will it affect gate sales? What will hurt us worse than anything is another heat wave,” he said.
The Stanislaus County Fair draws upwards of 240,000 visitors each year with hundreds of dairy cattle and poultry entries as part of its over 100-year agricultural district history. The fair also proudly features a Replacement Heifer Sale and a Junior Livestock Auction to benefit local FFA and 4-H exhibitors, which would be impacted by the ban.
“We will continue to assess the threat over the next few months and rescind this ban if the situation changes,” said Dr. Jones.
The Stanislaus County Fair released a statement saying that it will move forward with replacement heifer applications as planned, but will only require exhibitors to enter online prior to turning in their paperwork. The application deadline is Feb. 17-18.
The State Veterinarian went on to urge dairy cow and poultry owners to continue practicing enhanced biosecurity measures; prevent comingling with wild bird populations, with other poultry/dairy cows and their owners; and avoid moving or sharing equipment that may transfer the virus.
Avian influenza is a highly contagious and often fatal disease in birds. The viral spread is promoted by wild birds, especially in wild waterfowl such as ducks and geese, but many other wild bird species can also be a source of spread. The disease spreads through movement of infected or exposed birds, direct or indirect contact with infected wild and domestic birds or contact with virus on fomites (surfaces) such as hands, shoes, clothing, or feet and fur of rodents and other animals.
In addition, dairy cows have also been affected by the disease this year, so increased precautions are urged especially for farms that have both cows and poultry or are in the vicinity of a dairy cow farm.
Clinical signs of H5N1 bird flu in cows include decrease in feed consumption with a simultaneous decrease in rumination and rumen motility, respiratory signs (including clear nasal discharge), acute drop in milk production (severely affected cattle may have thicker, concentrated, colostrum-like milk or produce no milk at all), abnormal tacky or loose feces, lethargy, dehydration, and fever.
Clinical signs of H5N1 bird flu (highly pathogenic) in poultry include sudden death, trouble breathing, clear runny discharge (from nose, mouth, and eyes), lethargy, decreased food and water intake, swelling (eyes, head, wattles, or combs), discolored or bruised comb, wattles, or legs, stumbling/falling or twisted neck.
