Health Rules

All final health tests, evaluations, and inspections for the Iowa Beef Expo, Feb. 8th – 16th must be conducted after JANUARY 20, 2025, and MUST be completed prior to arrival at the Expo grounds. NO animal will be allowed to sell if ALL the health tests listed below are not completed PRIOR to arriving at the Expo.

IOWA BEEF EXPO
Iowa State Fairgrounds Cattle Barn Office
East 30th and University Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50317
Phone 515-262-3111 ext 4301 • Fax 515-262-2996

Veterinarians responsible for Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) MUST complete ALL tests as
indicated below:

1. For all Iowa origin cattle, put only one animal on each Iowa Interstate CVI (Pink Form 008-0050). Send all 4 copies of the Certificate with the animal. Make an additional copy for yourself if desired. Consignee should read Iowa Beef Expo. The CVI must include the owner’s name, complete premises address and phone number. Include Lot Number at the top of the CVI if known.

2. All cattle from out of state will be handled as indicated below with the Iowa Beef Expo as the consignee. The CVI must include the owner’s name, complete premises address and phone number. Put all animals on one certificate. Individual certificates will be prepared by the Breed Sale Veterinarian after the sale of the consignments.

3. All tests must list the date of the test results and the laboratory name and address that conducted said tests.

4. Official identification consists of one of the following: USDA Brucellosis tags (orange), USDA metal tags (silver), 840 series RFID or 840 non-RFID tags and must be listed on the CVI. Listing breed registration names & numbers and tattoos are optional but are NOT sufficient identification by themselves. Other tags following the National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES) criteria of a 9 character format (2 digit state code, 3 alpha, and 4 digits) and displaying the US shield are also official identification.

5. Electronic CVI’s are also acceptable for only out of state cattle. Only one copy is necessary.

6. Permits will only be required for cattle coming from the following four Michigan counties: Montmorency, Alpena, Oscoda and Alcona and have a negative Tuberculosis test within 60 days. Permit numbers are issued Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM CST at 515-281-5547.

BRUCELLOSIS
1. Eligible animals can originate from class free states when accompanied by an official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection listing Official Individual Identification. Animal must have legible OCV tattoo! Iowa is a Brucellosis free state.
2. From a Class A state, eligible animals can originate from a Certified Brucellosis Free Herd when accompanied by an official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection listing Official Individual Identification, Brucellosis Herd Certification number and date of last test. Animal must have legible OCV tattoo!
3. From a Class A State, eligible animals can originate from a herd not under quarantine with an official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection listing Official Individual Identification and a negative brucellosis test conducted after January 21, 2025, All Brucellosis tests must have been confirmed by a State-Federal laboratory. Any calfhood vaccinated females under 24 months of age and not pregnant may be sold when accompanied by an official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection listing Official Individual identification with no test required. If pregnant, the animal must be tested regardless of their age.

TUBERCULOSIS
1. Testing is not required for cattle from Tuberculosis class free states, but is highly recommended by the Expo Veterinary Staff. It should be noted that Manitoba Canada and some of the U.S. states require a TB test.
2. State not currently classified as TB free is Michigan. See #6 above for detailed information.

RINGWORM
1. Any evidence of warts, ringworm, pinkeye, draining abscesses or any other contagious disease will eliminate the cattle from the Expo grounds.

SCABIES
1. If any animal originates from a Scabies endemic area, and a herd is not under quarantine, they must have been dipped or treated with Ivomec, Eprinex, Dectomax or Cydectin, or a generic equivalent after January 21, 2025 and must be certified to method of control on the official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.

VESICULAR STOMATITIS
1. States having a premise or area under quarantine because of the diagnosis of Vesicular Stomatitis shall have the following statement written on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection: “All animals susceptible to Vesicular Stomatitis identified and included on this certificate have been examined and found to be free from clinical signs of Vesicular Stomatitis, have not been exposed to Vesicular Stomatitis, and within the past 30 days, have not been within ten miles of any site under quarantine for Vesicular Stomatitis.”

BLUETONGUE & ANAPLASMOSIS & BVD & PI
1. Animals are not required to be tested for Bluetongue or Anaplasmosis, but your Expo Veterinary Staff recommends it since it is a requirement for export to Canada and also required by some states in the U.S. An initial negative test would give some assurance that a subsequent test would probably be negative.

PREGNANCY
1. All animals sold as being pregnant must have this verified after January 21, 2025 and so stated on the official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.
2. All animals sold as bred but not guaranteed pregnant should list all dates of exposure on the official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.
3. Open heifers MUST be guaranteed by the seller/breeder as open.

BRUCELLOSIS
1. Eligible animals can originate from class free states when accompanied by an official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection listing Official Individual Identification. Iowa is a Brucellosis free state.
2. From a Class A state, eligible animals can originate from a Certified Brucellosis Free Herd when accompanied by an official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection listing Official Individual Identification, Brucellosis Herd Certification number and date of last test.
3. From a Class A State, eligible animals over 6 months of age can originate from a herd not under quarantine with an official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection listing Official Individual Identification and a negative brucellosis test conducted after January 21, 2025. All Brucellosis tests must have been confirmed by a State-Federal laboratory.

TUBERCULOSIS
1. Same as females

RINGWORM
1. Same as females

SCABIES
1. Same as females

BLUETONGUE & ANAPLASMOSIS & BVD & PI
1. Same as females

FERTILITY
1. All bulls born before January 1, 2024 must pass a breeding soundness exam performed by a licensed veterinarian after January 21, 2025 and prior to arriving on the Expo grounds. Such exam must be noted on the official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or may be presented on a “Certificate of Fertility Evaluation”.
2. All bulls born in 2023 must be guaranteed by the seller to be fertile breeders. A breeding soundness exam is optional for 2024 born bulls.

BREEDING SOUNDNESS EXAM and/or SEMEN EVALUATION and PHYSICAL EXAM MUST BE COMPLETED BY A LICENSED VETERINARIAN
All bulls must be guaranteed by the seller to be fertile breeders.

TRICHOMONIASIS
1. It is required that any bull born before January 1, 2024 or any non-virgin bull requires a single negative PCR test after January 21, 2025 and prior to arriving on the Expo grounds. A statement denoting status of virgin bulls must be noted on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.

VESICULAR STOMATITIS
1. Same as females

Consignors are reminded that NO cattle will be allowed to sell unless they have met all these health requirements PRIOR to their arrival at the Iowa Beef Expo. NO EXCEPTIONS Will Be Made! You must follow these health requirements exactly as printed.

DISPLAY CATTLE

1. Certificate of Veterinary Inspection listing Official Individual Identification are required for display cattle and will be examined by the Expo Veterinary Staff. All display cattle must meet the current Interstate or Intrastate rules governing cattle being presented for exhibition. If your veterinarian has any questions he/she may call the State Veterinarians Offices at 515-281-5547, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST.

JUNIOR SHOW CATTLE HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

1. Cattle should be inspected within 30 days of the show.
2. All Junior cattle must be listed on a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection listing Official Individual Identification to be presented at check-in. Electronic CVI’s are acceptable. Multiple calves from the same farm or family may be listed on the same CVI. Official Individual Identification tags are required. Official identification consists of one of the following: USDA Brucellosis tags (orange), USDA metal tags (silver), 840 series RFID or 840 non-RFID tags and must be listed on the CVI. Listing breed registration names & numbers and tattoos are optional but are NOT sufficient identification by themselves. Other tags following the National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES) criteria of a 9 character format (2 digit state code, 3 alpha, and 4 digits) and displaying the US shield are also official identification.

 * 4-H Eartags that are NUES tags are acceptable official identification. 

3. No testing is required.

RINGWORM
1. Any evidence of warts, ringworm, pinkeye, draining abscesses or any other contagious disease will eliminate the cattle from the Expo grounds.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR EXHIBITION OF LIVESTOCK AT DISTRICT SHOWS
1. Click here for complete rules.