Every two years, the NMLB is required to complete 40 hours of in-service training to meet the Department of Public Safety requirements for certified police officers. The class room and range time included legal updates and firearms trainings. While at the trainings, held in Raton last month, a top gun contest was put together by firearms instructor Ruben Baca. Byron Murphy beat out the best of our 25 shooters in both time and accuracy. Congratulations Byron! Michele Ingram came in at a close second and Barry Allen in third. The belt buckle was hand made by Marion Turner.
Please review the following statement from State Veterinarian Ralph Zimmerman regarding changes to entry during the 2019 New Mexico State Fair.
The New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB) held its first meeting with newly appointed members Thursday, Aug. 8, in Albuquerque.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed the following new members to the board in late July: Tony Casados, Jr., John N. Conniff, Tobin Allen Dolan, Kathy Charise Longinaker, Rita Marie Padilla-Gutierrez, Morgan Switzer-McGinley, Edward Paul Torres and Tara M. Vander Dussen. The eight new members join Molly Manzanares on the board.
Tara Vander Dussen nominated Molly Manzanares as chair, Tobin Dolan as vice chair and John Conniff as secretary. Members elected all three to those respective positions.
New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte attended the meeting as NMLB Interim Executive Director. Witte said the positions of executive director and chief legal counsel are in the hiring process.
The NMLB’s mission is to protect the integrity of New Mexico’s livestock industry. The NMLB team of about 60 full-time inspectors and 60 full- and part-time deputies continuously patrol and perform inspections around the state to help keep livestock free from disease and safe from theft. NMLB is also home to the office of the state veterinarian, whose team collaborates with various government and private sector partners to ensure that New Mexico remains free of diseases.
As part of the oldest law enforcement agency in New Mexico, the men and women of the NMLB serve and protect an industry that has operated in the western territory of what is now the United States for over 400 years. Though New Mexico did not become a state until 1912, this agency was formed in 1887 as the Cattle Sanitary Board. The Sheep Sanitary Board formed two years later. The two organizations merged in 1967, becoming the New Mexico Livestock Board, which continues today as an agency of the State of New Mexico.
(Albuquerque, New Mexico) – Horses in three additional New Mexico counties have tested positive for Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV). The United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced yesterday that Cibola County, San Miguel County and Sierra County have confirmed VSV positive premises. Other affected New Mexico counties include Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Taos and Valencia.
Other affected states include Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. Visit the USDA-APHIS website for the most current information on VSV cases: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/cattle-disease-information/vsv-reports
The virus can affect horses, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, camelids (alpacas and llamas) and cervids (deer species). Symptoms may include oral lesions, oral blistering and drooling, but please refer to the USDA-APHIS website for more detailed information:
Please be sure to contact your veterinarian if you plan to travel from New Mexico to other states with horses or other livestock. This disease is reportable in New Mexico, meaning animal owners are required to notify USDA or the state veterinarian if your veterinarian suspects VSV.
If you suspect VSV, please contact the New Mexico State Veterinarian Dr. Ralph Zimmerman at 505-841-6161 or USDA-APHIS/Veterinary Services at 505-313-8050.
As fair season approaches, the New Mexico Livestock Board has several recommendations as a result of confirmed VSV cases in New Mexico horses.
Zimmerman urges people to be diligent.
“While we are not ordering the cancellation of any events at this point, we recommend several advisable steps to keep animals safe,” said Zimmerman. “I encourage common sense decision making and overall awareness of the situation.”
Following is a list of recommendations for fair organizers, rodeo organizers and for individuals bringing animals to events:
- Either an Extension agent, local veterinarian or a knowledgeable livestock person should be present at entry gates to check animals’ mouths for lesions (using fresh gloves for each animal)
- Questionable animals should be sent home before they enter the grounds
- The use of fly spray is encouraged
- Do not handle other people’s animals
- Avoid sharing grooming equipment
- Use your own water buckets
- If an animal breaks with Vesicular Stomatitis on the grounds, send them home immediately
At this point, state officials are not requiring a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for intrastate travel.
– NMLB –
For continuing updates on affected New Mexico premises and counties please visit the USDA APHIS VSV Situation Report at the following link:
The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) team is happy to announce that the 2019 Request for Applications has been posted. Applicants will choose from a pool of 190 Shortages in 44 states, the highest number of states in the program's history. Information on the application process can be found here.
We are hosting a webinar for applicants on Wednesday, March 13 at 8am ET. If there is interest among applicants, we may host additional Q&A webinars before the application deadline of close of business on Friday, April 12.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions: vmlrp.applications@nifa.usda.gov.
...and what does this have to do with my ranch, dairy, farm, or show animals? Why are we now discussing VFD's and VFD drugs?
Beginning January 1, 2017 a certain class of livestock drugs will find their way onto the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) drug list. In 1996 Congress enacted the Animal Drug Availability Act (ADAA, Public Law 104-250) to regulate new animal drugs used in or on animal feed. These uses were limited to those allowed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. These drugs were termed Veterinary Feed Directive drugs or VFD drugs. Continue reading...
10/19/16 Update
Please note the following relevant NM Board of Veterinary Medicine Rule 16.25.9.8.3.2 : "The veterinarian writing a veterinary food directive (VFD) order for premises in New Mexico must be a New Mexico-licensed veterinarian and present on the premises within the six (6) months preceding the issuance of the order. All elements of the federal rules to issue a VFD order must be met and the issuing veterinarian must provide supporting documentation of the visit to the premises including medical records within fourteen (14) days of a request from the board to provide such documentation"
For additional information, click on the following links:
See the document below, both in English and Spanish, for a discussion on how to minimize the risk of your horse getting and/or spreading the EHV-1 virus.