Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Farm & Home News

An equine infectious anemia (or EIA) verifier certification program will be conducted Tuesday, June 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Nevada County Cooperative Extension Service office in Prescott.

Richard Jackson with the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission will conduct the program in cooperation with me.

Equine infectious anemia is a serious viral disease of horses similar to malaria. It is characterized by sudden fever, swelling and anemia.

Act 540, which was passed in the 2001 legislative session, requires a certified EIA verifier be present at any horse event that meets one of any three standards. These are defined as (1) any event which has more than 50 horses or (2) any event which charges any entry, gate or membership fee or (3) any event that gives away prizes, awards or points of any kind.

Anyone who puts on an event with horses that meets any of these standards must have an EIA verifier present. Act 540 is in addition to Act 1306 that requires all Arkansas equidae (horses, mules, donkeys and zebras) to have a negative EIA test every 12 months. Change of ownership requires a six-month negative EIA test.

Livestock and Poultry officials and representatives of the Cooperative Extension Service and the Arkansas Horse Council will teach classes for EIA verifiers in each county/area of the state until July 1 of this year.

Each two-hour class will cover the exact same material. Those attending will fill out an application and receive instruction on equine infectious anemia, horse identification, required health forms and laws about EIA. They will also be required to take a written test at the end of the course.

All persons 18 years of age and older, who pass the test, will be certified through July 1, 2002. There is no fee for this certification. All previous EIA verifiers must re-certify during this period.