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Organization of the Board

This section describes the Board of Animal Health’s duties and responsibilities, the organization of the Board, and its methods of operation.

Mississippi Board of Animal Health Composition

In accordance with section §69-15-2 of the Mississippi Code Annotated, the Board of Animal Health is composed of 15 members. Five members are ex officio with full voting rights and the remaining 10 members are appointed by the governor from various groups as provided by law. The five ex officio members consist of the commissioner of agriculture and commerce, the dean of the college of veterinary medicine and the heads of the animal and dairy science and poultry science departments at Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science and one person appointed by the President of Alcorn State University from its land grant staff. The governor appoints the ten other members to four-year terms as follows:

  1. One licensed and practicing veterinarian who holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree, from a written list of three recommendations submitted by the State Veterinary Medical Association;
  2. One general farmer from a list of three recommendations of the Farm Bureau Federation;
  3. One poultry breeder and producer from a list of three recommendations submitted by the Poultry Improvement Association;
  4. One small ruminant breeder and producer from a list of three recommendations, with one recommendation being submitted by each of the following: the Mississippi Sheep Producers’ Association, the Mississippi Club Goat Association and the Mississippi Goat Association. If an association fails to timely submit its recommendation, the Governor may appoint the member from the list of recommendations submitted by the other associations;
  5. One beef cattle breeder and producer from a list of three recommendations submitted by the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association;
  6. One swine breeder and producer from a written list of three recommendations submitted by the Mississippi Pork Producers’ Association;
  7. One dairy breeder and producer submitted from a written list of three recommendations from the American Dairy Association of Mississippi;
  8. One horse breeder and producer from a written list of four recommendations, with one recommendation being submitted by each of the following: the Mississippi Quarter Horse Association, Tennessee Walking Horse Association, Mississippi Cutting Horse Association and Mississippi State Equine Association. If an association fails to timely submit its recommendation, the Governor may appoint the member from the list of recommendations submitted by the other associations;
  9. One catfish breeder and producer from a written list of three recommendations from the Mississippi Catfish Association; and
  10. One member of the Mississippi Livestock Auction Association from a written list of three recommendations submitted by the Mississippi Livestock Auction Association.

Amended August 7, 2017 Source: Miss. Code Ann. §69-15-3

Advisory Council
The Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and one appointee of the Lieutenant Governor and one appointee of the Speaker of the House of Representatives compose the advisory council created by the Legislature to advise the Board of Animal Health on matters concerning the board.

Powers of the Board of Animal Health
The law authorizes the Board to deal with all contagious and infectious diseases of animals as set out in section §69-15-9 of the Mississippi Code Annotated that may be prevented, controlled or eradicated and to that end, the Board is authorized to promulgate and enforce regulations necessary to control, eradicate and prevent the spread of diseases of animals in the State of Mississippi. The Board is authorized to establish and maintain quarantine lines by county, supervisor’s district, parcel of land and premises.

State Veterinarian
The State Veterinarian is an officer of the executive branch of state government appointed by the Board from a list of not less than three licensed veterinarians submitted by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce pursuant to Section §69-15-7 of the Mississippi Code Annotated. The law provides that the State Veterinarian shall be a licensed and practicing veterinarian, shall hold a Degree of Veterinary Medicine from a recognized college or university, and shall have been engaged in the practice of veterinary science for not less than ten years prior to his appointment. The State Veterinarian serves at the will and pleasure of the board.

Delegation of Authority
The law authorizes the State Veterinarian to appoint inspectors and range riders and to delegate authority to said inspectors and range riders to enter premises to inspect and disinfect livestock and premises and enforce quarantines.

Time and Place of Board Meetings
Regular meetings of the board members of the Board of Animal Health shall be held quarterly without notice at 9:30 o’clock A.M. on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in the months of January, April, July and October of each year.  Said meetings shall be held at the Agriculture Building, 121 N. Jefferson St., Jackson, Mississippi, unless stated otherwise.
Rule 106 adopted August 13, 1998.  Amended July 16, 2007 and August 7, 2017.
Source: Miss. Code Ann. §69-15-3.

Special meetings shall be called by the chairman at the request of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce on three (3) days’ written notice, or by a majority vote of the entire Board on three (3) days’ written notice. Notice may be given by mail, facsimile or electronically. Said meetings shall be held at the Agriculture Building in Jackson, unless stated otherwise.
(Rule adopted August 13, 1998. Amended July 16, 2007.)

 

Contacting the Board of Animal Health
The Board of Animal Health may be contacted in person, by U.S. Mail, Courier mail, e-mail, telephone, and tele facsimile. The Board of Animal Health maintains and provides interactive services on the Internet at www.mbah.ms.gov

The Board maintains offices in Jackson at the following location:
121 North Jefferson Street
Jackson, MS 39201

This location houses the state veterinarian and support staff.

  1. The mailing address for the Board of Animal Health is:
    P.O. Box 3889
    Jackson, MS 39207
  2. The Board of Animal Health’s telephone and facsimile numbers are:
    1. Office: 601-359-1170
    2. FAX: 601-359-1177