(1) The Mississippi Board of Animal Health is to be composed 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 (1) person appointed by the President of Alcorn State University from its land grant staff as five (5) ex officio members with full voting rights, and ten (10) other members of the board to be appointed by the Governor as hereinafter provided. The board shall select annually a chairman and vice chairman from any members of the board.

(2) The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint eleven (11) other members from the following groups or associations from a written list of recommendations from such groups or associations:

One (1) licensed and practicing veterinarian who holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree, from a written list of three (3) recommendations submitted by the Mississippi State Veterinary Medical Association;

One (1) general farmer from a written list of three (3) recommendations submitted by the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation;

One (1) poultry breeder and producer from a written list of three (3) recommendations submitted by the Mississippi Poultry Association;

One (1) small ruminant breeder and producer from a written list of three (3) recommendations, one (1) recommendation 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;

One (1) beef cattle breeder and producer from a written list of three (3) recommendations submitted by the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association;

One (1) swine breeder and producer from a written list of three (3) recommendations submitted by the Mississippi Pork Producers’ Association;

One (1) dairy breeder and producer from a written list of three (3) recommendations submitted by the American Dairy Association of Mississippi;

One (1) horse breeder and producer from a written list of four (4) recommendations, one (1) recommendation 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;

One (1) catfish breeder and producer from a written list of three (3) recommendations submitted by the Mississippi Catfish Association;

One (1) member of the Mississippi Livestock Auction Association from a written list of three (3) recommendations submitted by the Mississippi Livestock Auction Association.

All members shall take and subscribe to the general oath of office as provided in Section 268, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, and file the same with the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce.

(3) Effective August 1, 1968, the dairy producer member shall be appointed for a one-year term; the Livestock Auction Association member shall be appointed for a two-year term; and the meat packer member shall be appointed for a three-year term; the catfish producer member shall be appointed for a four-year term; and the horse producer member shall be appointed for a five-year term.

Effective August 1, 1969, the poultry producer member shall be appointed for a two-year term; on August 1, 1970, the sheep producer member shall be appointed for a three-year term; on August 1, 1971, the swine producing member shall be appointed for a four-year term; on August 1, 1972, the general farmer member shall be appointed for a five-year term; on August 1, 1973, the veterinarian member shall be appointed for a six-year term; and on August 1, 1974, the beef cattle producer member shall be appointed for a seven-year term.

All subsequent appointments shall be for four-year terms, except for appointments to fill vacancies which shall be for the unexpired term only.

(4)

(a) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce.

(b) “Department” means the Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

(5) On or before July 1, 1998, the board shall appoint, from a written list of not less than three (3) licensed veterinarians submitted by the commissioner, the State Veterinarian.

(6) There is created an advisory council to advise the Board of Animal Health on matters concerning the board. The council shall be composed of the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and one (1) appointee of the Lieutenant Governor and one (1) appointee of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The members of the advisory council shall serve in an advisory capacity only. For attending meetings of the council, such legislators shall receive per diem and expenses which shall be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same amounts provided for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session; however, no per diem or expenses for attending meetings of the council shall be paid while the Legislature is in session. No per diem and expenses shall be paid except for attending meetings of the council without prior approval of the proper committee in their respective houses.