Exhibition Health Requirements for Livestock, Poultry, and Exotic Animals, Out-of-state swine, 2 CAR § 194-103

The exhibition health requirements for Arkansas swine, 2 CAR § 194-203, require negative tests for brucellosis and pseudorabies within ninety (90) days of exhibition except for animals originating directly from a validated herd. However, 2 CAR § 194-103 exempts out-of-state swine from swine- brucellosis and pseudorabies testing when the animals originate from swine- brucellosis-free states and pseudorabies-free states. According to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), swine-brucellosis and pseudorabies were eliminated from commercial swine in 2011 and 2004, respectively. Therefore, all states are considered swine- brucellosis-free and pseudorabies-free in commercial swine production, and out- of-state swine are not required to test negative for swine-brucellosis or pseudorabies prior to exhibition in Arkansas. Between 200 and 400 out-of-state swine entered Arkansas for exhibition each year from 2022 to 2025. A real threat of infection exists for domestic pigs due to the high prevalence of swine-brucellosis and pseudorabies in feral hogs. On April 30, 2026, USDA confirmed the detection of pseudorabies virus in a commercial swine facility in Iowa that resulted from the movement of animals exposed to feral hogs in Texas. Inadequate biosecurity measures in outdoor production herds or swine that have access to the outdoors can lead to swine-brucellosis or pseudorabies infection. Making testing requirements equivalent for in-state and out-of-state swine prior to exhibition in Arkansas ensures the safety of all animals on exhibition grounds.

No public hearing was held on this rule. The public comment period expired July 14, 2026. The board indicated it received no public comments.

• Rule packet: B.1.a. DOA ABAH Exhbtn Health Reqs for Livestock Poultry and Exotic Animals_Out-of-state swine_2 CAR 194-103
• ALC summary agenda Sep 17, 2026
• ALC agenda Sep 17, 2026
• ALC meeting video Sep 17, 2026
• Arkansas Register, October 2026