[Jacob-list] Scrapie program

[Kathryn Shirley]

The government hard at work.  Part of the program is to identify just
how prevelent scrapie is in this country.  We don't have any figures for
that.  Also, most other industrialized countries have scrapie
eradication programs (similar to the program we have for horses in the
US--we have to get a yearly coggins test --forgot the name of the
disease--any animal with it has to be destroyed or quarantined for
life).  Some countries used the brouhaha over the hoof and mouth
outbreak to tell the US that they will not import sheep or sheep
products from us because we do not have a scrapie eradication program.
Having a scrapie eradication program will allow us to continue to export
sheep and sheep products to the European Union.

Kate Shirley
Humbug Farm

Linda wrote:

>  Thanks so much, all,  for the scrapie certification information and
> for answering my questions. The scrapie vet came over yesterday and we
> discussed the program.  While I am still uncertain that the program,
> as currently operated, will be as effective as many believe, I had
> many points to consider after a lengthy and enlightening
> conversation.  The vet answered all my questions to my satisfaction.
> I can see where a good vet can make the program alot easier to work
> with.  First - in the state of Georgia, it is now mandatory that
> intact sheep be tagged with your flock id when they leave your farm.
> This is regardless of whether they are going out of state or not.  The
> exception is if you are delivering directly to a slaughter house for
> your own use.  As not all breeders are aware of the change in
> regulations and it is difficult to notify all breeders, any one found
> not complying will just receive a warning the first time.  Since it
> will be hard for me to plead ignorance, I have to tag anything I sell
> whether I join the certification program or just remain in the
> mandatory program.  I'm not sure what other states have this
> requirement, but the vet tells me that a number do now.  Others are
> considering the requirement. The value of DNA testing cannot be
> overemphasized.  According to this vet, the commercial meat flocks are
> paying top dollar for RR rams (when they can even be found - they are
> somewhat rare in the meat breeds around here) There is a movement to
> use RR rams for a number of generations in an attempt to produce
> resistant flocks. It is a federal offense to remove a scrapie tag. It
> appears that you cannot avoid being in either the mandatory ID or the
> certification program unless you keep all your sheep at home.  I don't
> see much difference in the requirements of the the two and the
> benefits of the certification program are higher. Linda  Visit our
> first lambs of 2002!
> http://www.patchworkfibers.com/lambs2002.html
> Registered Jacob Sheep
> Handspun Yarns
>
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