Swine Exhibition Rules in Pennsylvania

To exhibit swine in Pennsylvania, know the rules imposed by the PA Department of Agriculture to ensure traceability and minimize disease spread.

In brief, this order details the need for a veterinary certificate of health inspection (CVI), permanent identification in the form of an RFID 840 ear tag, sanitation requirements, and final destinations of pigs by show classification. Full details of this order and supplementary documents can be found at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Animal Health and Diagnostic Services page under the heading Swine Exhibition Requirements to the right side of the page.

If you are planning to transport pigs for exhibition within or into Pennsylvania, please first consult this full order. Understanding the requirements of the show before arrival will help you to fully abide by them and avoid surprises upon your arrival. Any questions regarding the order should be directed to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852.

These requirements have been put into place by PDA to improve ability to monitor and trace animals that may be potentially spreading disease in an outbreak situation. There have been numerous disease outbreaks in recent history that has pushed the importance of traceability when moving livestock.

To be sure that you are meeting all requirements of the swine exhibition order, contact your exhibition organizer. Additionally, consult these resources to better understand the rules.

• RFID Tags for Use in Swine: Understand the reasons for using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to identify swine in commercial herds and show pigs.
• Tagging Pigs: Tagging pigs for show is a requirement in Pennsylvania and part of good production practices for swine.
• Veterinary Client Patient Relationship (VCPR): A Veterinary Client Patient Relationship (VCPR) is a critical part of a good livestock health program. Learn what it is and how it can help you and your animals' health.
• Biosecurity Risk Assessment for Livestock Exhibitions: A checklist to determine the biosecurity risk at Livestock Exhibitions.
• Biosecurity - A Practical Approach: Biosecurity is a set of practices employed to prevent the importation of infectious organisms into a herd or flock, and their transmission between animals.
• 4H Livestock Biosecurity Tips Fact Sheet: Biosecurity benchmarks to help keep you and your animals safe.
• Livestock Transportation: How to safely move between facilities, to another farm or to a livestock market, during livestock transportation.