California bans poultry and dairy cattle exhibits at fairs

California county fairs and shows will no longer include poultry and dairy cattle exhibits as the state deals with the spread of H5N1 avian influenza.

The state veterinarian issued the ban last week, the California Department of Food and Agriculture said. Officials did not say how long the ban would be in effect, saying only that it would be in effect “until further notice.”

The ban comes weeks after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to bird flu.

In Stanislaus County, fair organizers have decided not to officially cancel planned poultry and dairy cattle shows.

“This does not mean that there will not be a time before the start of the show when we will have no choice but to cancel,” organizers wrote in the letter to exhibitors.

Organizers said they wanted to ensure exhibitors still had the opportunity to show whether the ban was in place before the show.

In Calaveras County, show organizers encouraged exhibitors to look at other projects.

“If you have a small space, bunnies are always a great option,” organizers shared in a Facebook video.

“The cooperation of cow and bird owners is essential to controlling this disease,” State Veterinarian Annette Jones said in a news release. “When exposed cows and birds are not moved or mixed, the spread of disease can be avoided. We will continue to assess the threat over the coming months and will reverse this ban if the situation changes.”

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