Visitors to the Ohio Bull Test Sale at the Eastern Ohio Resource Development Center (EORDC) in Belle Valley, OH will be subject to a new security policy. A new college wide policy will restrict access to all OSU livestock facilities to people who have been traveling outside the U.S. within the previous 10 days.

Signs will be posted at the entrance of EORDC reading: "STOP, HELP PROTECT OUR ANIMALS. Please do not enter premises if you have been out of the U.S. within the last 10 days. We apologize for any inconvenience". Someone asking if they have been out of the country in the last 10 days will then greet visitors. If you have been out of the country in the last 10 days you will not be allowed on the premises. Your cooperation in helping protect the health of the livestock is greatly appreciated.

Please remember that the U.S. is currently free of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). This policy is being put in place as a precaution to help ensure that Ohio State’s livestock herds and flocks remain free of FMD given the level of visitor traffic they receive. Bulls purchased in April at EORDC are healthy and ready to go to work.

FMD is an airborne virus and you must be mindful of international travelers and the risk they may pose to maintaining the health of the Ohio and U.S. livestock industries. Ohio is home to approximately 265,000 milk cows, 1.2 million beef cattle and calves, 1.5 million hogs, and 142,000 sheep, together valued at nearly $1.13 billion, all of which would be susceptible to FMD if it were introduced to the U.S.