Sheep Extension Program

Scrapie

What are my responsibilities if I enroll in the "Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program?"

When participating in the program, flock owners must:

• Records:
  • Establish and maintain records. Owners must account for all acquisitions, departures, births, and deaths. Records must be retained for a minimum of 5 years after an animal dies or is removed from the flock.
  • Allow breed associations and registries, livestock markets, and packers to disclose records to APHIS and/or State animal health officials and State Scrapie Certification (Sample Flock Inventory)
• Reporting:
  • Agree to immediately report scrapie-suspect animals to the proper animal health official.
  • Report to the State Certification Board acquisitions of sheep from flocks with lower status or from flocks not participating in the program.
• Identification:
  • Officially identify all animals within a flock that are 1 year of age or older. Animals less than 1 year old must be identified whenever a change of ownership occurs, except for those in slaughter channels.
  • Submit to an official laboratory tissues from scrapie-suspect animals and from animals suspected of having other neurologic or chronic, debilitating illnesses.
• Cooperation
  • Allow State, Federal, and Scrapie Certification Board representatives to enter premises to carry out program procedures.
  • Provide necessary facilities and personnel to assist in inspections by APHIS representatives and/or State officials:
    • checking animals for official identification and signs of scrapie, and
    • checking records for completeness and accuracy