[Jacob-list] Re: how auctions handle the scrapie tag issue

[Elaina Kenyon]

Theoretically all of the auction yards are supposed to vend only sheep and
goats that have either a voluntary program tag or one of the mandatory
program tags.  Note that as of now the mandatory program is really only a
premise id system (as administered) even though the tags have individual
numbers.  What some of the auction yards actually do (and in NC this is
allowed - to quote the vet "they have lots of  leeway") is re-eartag all
sheep and goats going through (irrespective of whether they are already
tagged or not) because this allows them to track back to owner and gives
them a uniform system.

Elaina M. Kenyon
http://www.avillionfarm.com
Shetland sheep, angora goats, angora rabbits