Animal Health

The Colorado Departments of Agriculture and Public Health and Environment, in collaboration with Tri-County Health Department, have confirmed that a miniature horse in Adams county has tested positive for rabies. This is the second case of rabies in domestic livestock in Colorado this year; the first case was a mule in January in Eagle County. Before this year, the last equine rabies case in Colorado was documented in 2013.

Shortly after the miniature horse was euthanized, a skunk acting strangely was found and euthanized on the premises and also tested positive. 

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Maggie Baldwin has been named state veterinarian. In the role, Dr. Baldwin will manage CDA’s Animal Health division through planning, directing and executing all programs, policies and cooperative agreements with other governmental agencies. 

The Colorado Departments of Agriculture and Public Health and Environment have confirmed that a mule residing in Eagle County recently tested positive for bat variant rabies.  This is the first case of rabies in domestic livestock in Colorado this year and the first case of rabies in an equine in Colorado since 2013.  

The spillover of bat variant rabies into domestic animals and wildlife is less common than skunk variant rabies in Colorado but is still possible. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2020
Veterinarians and Livestock Owners Contact:  Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office, 303-869-9130
Media Contact:  Mary Peck, 720-428-0441, mary.peck@state.co.us

Broomfield, Colo. - Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began offering the option of no-cost Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) livestock ear tags in early 2020, the state veterinarian’s office has dispensed 59,120 tags across Colorado. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2020
Veterinarians and Livestock Owners Contact: Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office, 303-869-9130
Media Contact: Mary Peck, 720-428-0441, mary.peck@state.co.us

Broomfield, Colo. - A horse residing in Jefferson County has been diagnosed with West Nile Virus (WNV), marking the first confirmed equine WNV case in 2020.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2020
Contact: Mary Peck, 720-428-0441, mary.peck@state.co.us

Broomfield, Colo. - The Colorado Department of Agriculture has confirmed that a 3-month-old ram in El Paso county with neurologic signs tested positive for rabies at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment laboratory. This is the third case of rabies in domestic livestock in Colorado in 2020; a bull in Pueblo county and a goat in Yuma county were diagnosed with rabies earlier this year.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2020
Contact: Mary Peck, 720-428-0441, mary.peck@state.co.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2020
Contact: Mary Peck, CDA, (303) 869-9005, mary.peck@state.co.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2020
Contact: Mary Peck, 720-428-0441, mary.peck@state.co.us

Broomfield, Colo. - The Colorado Department of Agriculture reminds those planning to participate in livestock show and sale activities this season to stay in close contact with state and local health agencies overseeing those events.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2020
Contact: Mary Peck, 720-428-0441, mary.peck@state.co.us

Broomfield, Colo. - The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) reminds veterinarians and rabbit owners that reporting suspected occurrences of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV2), including sudden, elevated numbers of rabbit deaths, is mandatory. Disease reports are identified by the county of occurrence only, and all other personal information is protected from open record requests.