2024 Douglas County Fair Livestock Drug Testing

Testing Laboratory
1. Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
  1. Drug Screen – Performance Animals
  2. Laboratory used by over 150 different livestock show around the nation
2. Douglas County Fair Board has an account with the laboratory to be able to directly submit samples. The board will submit samples after they are properly prepared by the veterinarian (see below).
Recommended Samples to Collect
1. Market steers: blood
2. Market goats: blood
3. Market lambs: blood
4. Market swine: urine
Sample Collection Guidelines
1. All samples will be collected isolated from the general population of the barn
  1. Only the exhibitor, one parent/guardian, and one Fair Board witness should be allowed into the sample collection area
2. All samples should be collected immediately following selection of the winning
  animals
3. Animals should not be handled by anyone other than the exhibitor or parents/guardian until after the sample is collected
4. Samples will only be collected by official show veterinarian
5. All samples collected should be witnessed by a member of the Rules Committee and/or Fair Board member
6. All representatives handling samples will be wearing a fresh pair of examination gloves to prevent contamination of the sample
7. Sample Preparation
  1. Blood taken from cattle, sheep, and goats should be maintained in the custody of the show veterinarian. Samples must be spun down and separated into serum using a centrifuge prior to submission.
    1. Once serum has been separated and placed into a separate sterile tube for submission to the laboratory, samples will be signed over to an appointed coordinator of the Douglas County Fair Board for submission to the laboratory.
      1. All samples for immediate submission will need to be refrigerated and submitted with overnight shipping on ice.
  2. Urine after collection will be signs over to the appointed Coordinator for the Douglas County Fair Board.
    1. All samples for immediate submission will need to be refrigerated and submitted with overnight shipping on ice
  3. Samples will be collected into a sterile unopened container
  4. Once samples are taken and closed, red evidence tape will be placed over the top to indicate sample is sealed and cannot be tampered with. This will only be removed for removing serum sample (See point III – f- i).
    1. After serum is removed, the new tube will be sealed with tamper proof tape.
    2. The only other time tamper proof tape should be removed is by the laboratory
Documentation
1. Sample Collection (see accompanying document)
  1. Exhibitor and parent will need to sign in multiple locations
  2. Fair veterinarian and official representative will need to sign the document
  3. All drugs given to the animal within the last 30 days should be documented on the form
2. Chain of Evidence (see accompanying document)
  1. This document is to show all who handle and maintain possession of the form.
  2. A copy of this document should be maintained by the Douglas County Fair Board, as well as a copy of the document accompany the samples at all time
Interpretation
1. Final decisions are to be made by the Fair Board Rules Committee
2. If/when an animal comes back a positive for a substance, a conversation be held amongst the Fair Board Rules Committee as to if that positive result constitutes a performance enhancing drug or if that drug was used in a legal therapeutic manner
3. Recommended industry experts to be consulted in the case of a positive results:
  1. Matthew R. Kelso, DVM – Fair Veterinarian, Douglas County Fair
  2. Travis Mays, Director, Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory Performance Animal Drug Test Lab Director
  3. Faculty at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, including toxicologists and pharmacologists
    1. Dr. Kelso can help gain input from faculty and consult with them

Respectfully Submitted.

Douglas County Fair Board

and

Mattew R. Keslo, DVM