Action | Promulgate New Regulation to Replace Chapter 140 |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 4/1/2011 |
The State of Virginia alpaca industry is suffering because of the requirement for out of state breeders to have unnecessary & expensive testing done. Many of those breeders do not come to alpaca events and shows in the State of Virginia due to the cost as well as inconvenience of the testing requirements for TB, Brucellosis & Blue Tongue. Our vet says he has never seen a positive test result from a camelid for these diseases. A recent show in Lexington, VA for llamas and alpacas barely had enough entries to pay the bills, and it is now questionable whether they will be able to hold the show next year unless this legislation is passed (it will be their 16th year!) - our breeder friends in other states attended different shows the same weekend in nearby states where there were no testing requirements.
Changing the requirements would bring more alpacas to Virginia events and that is good for State revenues as well as helping the strong alpaca industry in our state!