Lee County 4-H Center & Fairgrounds

Livestock Health Rules

Official Fair Veterinary Service provided by:

Dr. Beth Sondgeroth, DVM
Bureau Valley Veterinary Service
(815) 875-1621

For Health Requirement Information:
Illinois Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare
State Fairgrounds, P.O. Box 19281, Springfield IL 62794-9281
(217) 782-4944

2026 Exhibition Livestock Health Requirements County Fairs

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
These Exhibition Health Requirements apply to all livestock present at the fair including those animals that are not entered in competitive events.

  1. Exhibitors are required to familiarize themselves with all rules applicable to their
  2. All out-of-state animals shall require an entry. Entry permit numbers are available online.
  3. All animals, except as noted, shall be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) which shows that the animal meets all health requirements for the State of Illinois. CVI’s shall be made available to Bureau of Animal Health Personnel on request. If an official electronic CVI is utilized, the exhibitor should be able to log on and show Bureau of Animal Health Personnel the completed CVI.
  4. CVI means a legible record made on an official form from the state of origin which has been issued, signed and dated by an accredited veterinarian and which shows the name and address of the animal’s owner or exhibitor and the results of all required tests or A CVI shall list only one animal identification per line; shall be presented on the form on which it was initially issued; and shall not be corrected, changed or altered in any manner.
  5. Beginning July 1, 2026, Illinois veterinarians must begin utilizing electronic certificates of veterinary inspection when they are completing these documents for interstate or intrastate movements. Examples of intrastate movements would be the required certificate of veterinary inspection for county or state fair exhibitions.  Therefore, when a producer or exhibitor requests a certificate of veterinary inspection after July 1, 2026, the Illinois accredited veterinarian will utilize an online platform in place of a handwritten paper form that was previously supplied by the Department.  The ECVI can then be provided to producers in an electronic form, be printed or both. Please note, if an exhibitor/producer’s veterinarian completes a certificate of veterinary inspection prior to July 1, 2026, the handwritten Illinois paper CVI will still be accepted, including at the fairs.
  6. All animals shall be officially The animal(s) official identification shall be recorded on the CVI.
  7. Animal identification number (AIN): A numbering system for the official identification of individual animals in the United States that provides a nationally unique identification number for each The AIN consists of 15 digits, with the first 3 being the country code (840 for the United States or a unique country code for any U.S. territory that has such a code and elects to use it in place of the 840 code).
  8. If animals are from tuberculosis accredited, brucellosis certified, pseudorabies qualified, or brucellosis validated herds, the identifying herd number(s) along with the date of the last herd test(s) shall appear on the CVI.
  9. CVIs for out-of-state livestock shall be void thirty (30) days after
  10. CVIs for Illinois-origin livestock shall be void ninety (90) days after
  11. All livestock shall be subject to examination upon entry to any Illinois fair or exhibition. Any animal showing evidence of infectious, contagious or communicable diseases shall be immediately withdrawn and held in quarantine at the owner’s risk and expense until properly treated and recovered, or until the animal is released to return to the owner’s premise.
  12. Any livestock infected with scabies, mange, active lesions of ringworm, soremouth, or multiple warts which are easily visible without close examination shall not be permitted to exhibit and are subject to quarantine or removal from the fairgrounds.
  13. Sheep and goats with caseous lymphadenitis as evidenced by draining abscesses shall not be exhibited and are subject to immediate quarantine or removal from the fairgrounds.
  14. In the event of the suspicion of or diagnosis of a foreign animal disease, emerging animal disease, or other actionable disease, animals may be subject to quarantine on the fairgrounds until such time that it is determined that the disease is no longer a threat.
  15. Illinois Department of Agriculture personnel or designee may collect blood, tissue, milk or urine samples from any animal being exhibited and/or raced at any Illinois fair to test for the presence of illegal drugs or banned substances. Examination techniques, such as ultrasound, may also be used at anytime while the animals are on the grounds of any Illinois fair or exhibit.
  16. The Illinois Department of Agriculture or designee may collect urine, blood, tissue or other test samples from exhibition animals at the time of slaughter.
  17. All exhibitors of animals at any Illinois fair or exhibition shall comply with the provisions of the Illinois Humane Care for Animals If violations are observed, the animals(s) will be excused from exhibition and ordered removed from the grounds with all awards being forfeited.
  18. Any practice or deviation from normal, accepted care, including physical, medical or mechanical application, shall constitute a violation of show rules and may result in the animal(s) disqualification and removal from the fairgrounds.
  19. Any Illinois cattle, bison, cervidae or goats being exhibited in non-accredited free states must be isolated from the remainder of the herd/flock upon return to Illinois and retested for tuberculosis 60-120 days post-entry.

CATS

No health certificate required, but proof of current immunizations against distemper (panleukopenia), feline rhinotracheitis and rabies are required at judging. The preceding shots must be listed on vet invoice with cats name. Cats must also be free of fleas, lice, ear mites and mange. Any cat showing symptoms of infectious, contagious or communicable diseases will not be permitted to show.

CATTLE

Identification

Individual identification of each animal shall be by a USDA official animal identification number ear tag, (“840” tag). The identification tag must be able to be read both visually and electronically.

 

Illinois Cattle

  • Brucellosis: Illinois is a Bovine Brucellosis Class-Free Brucellosis testing is not required for Illinois cattle.
  • Tuberculosis: Illinois is an Accredited Tuberculosis- Free Tuberculin testing is not required for Illinois cattle.
  • Please note: Illinois calves under 6 months of age are not required to have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.

Out-of-State-Cattle

All out-of-state cattle are to be accompanied by an entry permit. Entry permit numbers are available online.

Brucellosis

  1. Female cattle six (6) months of age and older and bulls eighteen (18) months of age and older shall be negative to an official test for brucellosis within thirty (30) days prior to entry, unless exempt by one (1) of the following:
    1. Originate directly from a certified brucellosis-free
    2. Official vaccinates of dairy breeds under twenty (20) months of age or official vaccinates of beef breeds under twenty-four (24) months of age.
    3. Animal originated from a “Class Free” state (if entire state is so classified)
    4. Steers and spayed heifers are not required to be tested for
  2. The negative brucellosis test shall be conducted at a state or federal laboratory within 30 days prior to exhibition.

Tuberculosis

  1. Accredited Tuberculosis Free States
    1. No tuberculin test All cattle, including steers, originating from an Accredited Tuberculosis Free State, may enter Illinois for exhibition when accompanied by a CVI issued by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days.
  2. Non-Accredited Tuberculosis Free Areas or States (Not TB Free)
    1. Cattle must originate from a herd where a complete herd test was conducted within the past year.

The individual animals entering Illinois must be negative to an additional tuberculin test conducted within 30 days prior to exhibition. Cattle that enter Illinois for exhibition and remain in Illinois (animal does not return to the state of origin within 30 days) must be isolated and retested for TB 60-120 days from the last official TB test date.

SWINE

Illinois Swine

  • Identification: Individual identification of each animal shall be by a USDA official animal identification number ear tag, (“840” tag). The identification tag must be able to be read both visually and electronically.
  • Brucellosis: Brucellosis testing is not required for Illinois swine.
  • Pseudorabies: Pseudorabies testing is not required for Illinois swine.

Out-of-State Swine

  • All out-of-state swine are to be accompanied by an entry. Entry permit numbers are available online.
  • Identification: Individual identification of each animal shall be by a USDA official animal identification number ear tag, (“840” tag). The identification tag must be able to be read both visually and electronically.
  • Brucellosis
    • Breeding swine 4 months of age and older shall be negative to an official test for brucellosis within 30 days prior to exhibition unless exempt by one (1) of the following:
    • Originate immediately and directly from a validated brucellosis-free herd.
    • Originate directly from a validated brucellosis-free
    • Swine brucellosis tests for exhibition shall be conducted at a state or federal
  • Pseudorabies
    • Swine originating from a Pseudorabies Stage IV or V state are exempt from the pseudorabies testing requirement.
    • Swine originating from a Pseudorabies Stage III state shall be negative to an official test for pseudorabies conducted within thirty (30) days prior to entry or originate immediately and directly from a qualified pseudorabies negative herd.
    • Swine originating from a Pseudorabies Stage I or II state shall be negative to an official test for pseudorabies conducted within the 10 days prior to entry.
  • Barrows and females in market classes must meet the same requirements as breeding

SHEEP

Identification

  • Individual identification of each animal shall be by an ear tattoo or official metal or plastic tag. A microchip ID is acceptable if the owner provides the reader.
  • Ear tattoos may be used when a registration certificate, listing the tattoo number, accompanies the animal.
  • When using ear tags, the tag must indicate the premises ID and state of origin. The tag number must be assigned by a state or APHIS representative and recorded in the Scrapie Record Database.
  • Market Lambs: All market lambs must be slick shorn (show ring ready) before weigh-in so that show lamb fungus can be identified.

Illinois Sheep

  • Sheep originating from a flock that has previously been classified as either an infected or source flock can be exhibited in Illinois upon the completion of an approved flock plan.
  • The CVI must include the flock of birth and the flock of origin, if different.

Out-of-State Sheep

  • All out-of-state sheep are to be accompanied by an entry permit. Entry permit numbers are available online.
  • Sheep originating from a flock that has previously been classified as either an infected or source flock can be exhibited in Illinois upon the completion of an approved flock plan.
  • The CVI must include the flock of birth and the flock of origin, if

GOATS

Identification

  • Individual identification of each animal shall be by an ear tattoo or official metal or plastic tag. A microchip ID is acceptable if the owner provides the reader.
  • Tattoos may be used when a registration certificate, listing the tattoo number, accompanies the animal.
  • When using ear tags, the tag must indicate the premises ID and state of origin. The tag number must be assigned by a state or APHIS representative and recorded in the Scrapie Record Database.
  • Ears should be used for tattooing when possible. If there is no space in the ear, the flank or tail fold may be used.

Illinois Goats

  • Goats originating from a herd that has previously been classified as either an infected or source herd can be exhibited in Illinois upon the completion of an approved herd plan.
  • The CVI must include the flock of birth and the flock of origin, if different.

Out-of-State Goats

  • All out-of-state goats are to be accompanied by an entry permit. Entry permit numbers are available online.
  • Goats originating from a herd that has previously been classified as either an infected or source herd can be exhibited in Illinois upon the completion of an approved herd plan.
  • Tuberculosis – Goats from areas or states that are not Accredited Bovine Tuberculosis Free, must be accompanied by a CVI indicating that the goats originated from a herd where a complete negative herd test has been conducted within the past twelve (12) months and the individual animals are negative to a tuberculin test conducted within thirty (30) days prior to entry. The CVI must include the flock of birth and the flock of origin, if different.

HORSES, PONIES, MULES AND OTHER EQUIDAE

Illinois Equine

  • All horses and other equidae, twelve (12) months of age and older attending an advertised equine event, shall be accompanied by a negative test for equine infectious anemia (EIA) conducted within the last twelve (12) months. A copy of this test shall accompany the animal.
  • AGID (Coggins) or ELISA tests are accepted.
  • An advertised equine event means a show, rodeo, sale, auction, exhibition, trail ride, or horse fair that is posted or media promoted.
  • A CVI is not required for Illinois equine.

 Out-of-State Equine

  • All out-of-state equine are to be accompanied by an entry permit. Entry permit numbers are available online.
  • All horses and other equidae entering Illinois that are twelve (12) months of age or older, shall be accompanied by a negative test for equine infectious anemia (EIA) conducted within the last twelve (12) months. A copy of this test shall accompany the animal.
  • AGID (Coggins) or ELISA tests are accepted.
  • All horses and other equidae shall be accompanied by a CVI issued within thirty (30) days prior to entry.

POULTRY

  • All entries (except waterfowl, i.e. domesticated fowl that normally swim, such as ducks and geese) in a show or exhibition shall have originated from a S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean or equivalent hatchery or flock OR have a negative pullorum-typhoid test within 90 days prior to exhibition. Exhibitor shall show proper information as to name and address of owner or exhibitor, name and address of the authorized testing agent, date of the testing and the number, breed, and species of those tested.
  • Prior to being used to transport poultry to a show, all crates, boxes, containers and vehicles shall be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
  • Any poultry vaccinations must be performed at least 4 weeks prior to delivery to the show.
  • Upon admission to a show, all entries shall be examined by the official county fair veterinarian or qualified state personnel who shall also receive and examine all certificates necessary for admission of birds to a show. Birds not in show condition will be excused from exhibition and removed from the premises. Any fowl showing signs of illness during the fair will be removed from the exhibition
  • All out-of-state turkeys must originate from flocks that are officially classified as U.S. Mycoplasma Gallisepticum Clean in accordance with the provisions of the National Poultry Improvement Plan or be negative to a test for Mycoplasma gallisepticum within 30 days prior to entry.
  • A permit is also required for out-of-state poultry. Entry permit numbers are available online.

RABBITS

There are no requirements governing the movements of rabbits within or into Illinois.

LLAMAS

There are no requirements governing the movement of llamas within Illinois. A permit and health certificate is required for out-of-state llamas. Entry permit numbers are available online.