Mother Lode Fair Event Cancellation

Sonora, CA — A swine virus is forcing Mother Lode Fair officials to cancel an event. The pre-weigh-in for all livestock at the fairgrounds this Saturday, April 26, at the fairgrounds has been cancelled.  The California Department of Food and Agriculture has advised of a Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, which has prompted the cancellation.

Mother Lode Fair Veterinarian Wes Wittman says the event is being cancelled as a precaution. “We’ve not seen this problem in our area at all,” says Wittman, “This year we are seeing more sick pigs just with respiratory disease.  Also, that was a consideration in making the decision.  We didn’t want to have to stress the pigs by bringing them to the fair and potentially causing more respiratory problems.”

Wittman says the respiratory problem being seen in the area is Pneumonia due to the warm days and relatively cold nights in the region.

In addition, there will be no Rate of Gain Contest for the nearly 70 to 75 exhibitors. Instead, this year all exhibitors will weigh-in their animals the Wednesday before the fair, which runs July 10 through the 13th.