A plan to eradicate the fatal disease scrapie from the nation’s sheep flocks and goat herds, announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will require dedication and commitment of producers and other stakeholders.
“To be successful, the scrapie eradication program will require the cooperation of every segment of the industry, from producer to meat packer, including local veterinarians, and state animal health officials,” said Glenn Slack, president and chief executive officer of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA). “We are tackling scrapie because it has the potential to jeopardize the future of sheep and goat production in the United States.”
The regulations needed for implementation of the accelerated scrapie eradication program became final in August. The plan will be administered by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Key elements include:
• Interstate movement restrictions on animals from infected and source flocks and high risk and exposed animals from other flocks;
• An indemnification program for owners of high risk, test-positive, and suspect animals;
• A nationwide individual identification program for breeding sheep and goats and sheep over 18 months of age;
• Surveillance and testing of sheep at slaughter; and
• Uniform minimum standards for state scrapie programs.
Especially important is that each flock identified as scrapie-infected will be required to prepare a plan to eradicate the disease and to monitor for recurrence of the disease in that flock or herd. To that end, producers will be provided with professional expertise, testing, and indemnity for animals required to be removed. The federal government earmarked $10 million for the program in the 2001 budget.
“As with the other eradication programs, this will take a long term commitment from everyone involved,” stated Dr. Cindy Wolf, a small ruminant specialist at the University of Minnesota and a flock owner. “While this may be a tough time for producers because of low prices, drought, and a number of other problems, it is important that we get on with the eradication program because of the length of time it will take.
“The disease takes two to five years to show clinical signs, therefore we expect that it will take a minimum of a decade to eradicate scrapie,” she continued. “In addition, it will take another seven years without a scrapie outbreak for the United States to be recognized internationally as ‘scrapie free.’ So this is at least a 17-year project.”
According to the American Sheep Industry (ASI) Association, scrapie costs American sheep and goat producers an estimated $20 to $25 million annually.
Frank Moore, president of ASI and a Wyoming sheep producer, said, “ASI has requested since 1996 that USDA take assertive action on a national scrapie eradication program. We will work closely with APHIS and the states to successfully implement this eradication program and to help assure that it has the least negative impact possible.”
To help producers learn about the new requirements, NIAA applied for and was awarded an educational grant from USDA, according to Slack. All sheep and goat producers were mailed ‘Eradicate Scrapie!’ pamphlets, which briefly explains the program and the identification requirements. Producers also received detailed information explaining what they need to know in order to implement the program and where to go for help or questions. Packets of information were also mailed to sheep and goat veterinarians and other industry stakeholders across the nation to assist in communicating the new regulations.
Key Date
Beginning November 19, 2001, most sheep and some goats, 18 months and older must be officially identified (ID) and breeding sheep and goats must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) to move into interstate commerce as part of the new program.
Those categories of sheep and goats that must be identified (ear tags or tattoos) are:
• All sheep 18 months and older;
• All breeding sheep regardless of age;
• All scrapie-exposed, suspect, test-positive, and high risk animals;
• Breeding goats, except low risk commercial goats;
• All sheep and goats for exhibition other than castrated males.
The following groups need no ID and have no movement restrictions:
• All sheep under 18 months of age moving into slaughter channels;
• All goats moving into slaughter channels;
• Low risk commercial goats defined as those:
— Raised for fiber and/or meat;
— Not registered or exhibited;
— Which have not been in contact with sheep;
— Not scrapie-positive, high risk, or exposed animals;
— Not from an infected or source herd.
• Wethers for exhibition;
• Animals moving for grazing, if no change in ownership occurs.
Owners of commercial whiteface breeding sheep less than 18 months of age will have until February 19, 2002, to comply with the ID and movement restrictions. The requirements for all scrapie-exposed, suspect, high risk, and positive animals have been in effect since September 20.
“If they haven’t already done so, producers should call their local APHIS office, or in Texas and Minnesota the state veterinarian’s office, to be assigned an official ID number and to get free ear tags,” explained Dr. Diane Sutton, National Scrapie Program coordinator with USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services. Producers can find their local APHIS office by calling, toll-free, (866) USDA-TAG (873-2824).
More information is available on the Internet at www.animalagriculture.org/scrapie or www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/scrapie.htm.
December 2001 Render