Eradicate Scrapie PowerPoint Available Free To order, contact: National Institute for Animal Agriculture (270) 782–9798 or
http://www.animalagriculture.org/ – Look for “Issues” tab at the top of the home page and click on “Eradicate Scrapie”
Goat producers and individuals involved in the goat industries—livestock market owners, extension personnel, show coordinators, processors, etc.—are urged to obtain a copy of “Goat Identification: Visual and Electronic,” a recently released slide presentation available from the National Institute of Animal Agriculture. The CD is free, thanks to funding from the USDA.
Dr. Cindy Wolf, a scrapie expert with the University of Minnesota who leads the nation’s Eradicate Scrapie! program, explains that scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease that affects sheep and goats and can significantly diminish profitability for sheep and goat producers. The USDA implemented an accelerated National Scrapie Eradication Program eight years ago, with the goal of helping to eradicate scrapie by the year 2010. To that regard, the USDA has provided funding for this project so goat producers and those within the goat industry are informed and adhere to federal and state identification requirements. “The first step to eradicating scrapie among the nation’s sheep flocks and goat herds is to know which animals need an official ear tag or other official identification for interstate and intrastate movement, and to tag or officially identify those animals prior to movement,” states Dr. Cindy Wolf, “this new slide set covers meat and fiber goats as well as dairy goats. “When you finish watching this slide presentation, you will know which specific goats must be identified with an individual ear tag, tattoo or microchip. You’ll also be informed about record keeping requirements, factors that contribute to optimal ear tag retention and minimal infection and tissue reaction and how to obtain free official USDA ear tags for individual identification.” Dr. Wolf adds that the slide set also shares identification tips, as well as outlines the steps that must be taken to obtain a flock/herd identification number for the National Scrapie Eradication Program. “The NSEP is not tied to the National Animal Identification System,” Dr. Wolf explains. “You do not need a NAIS (National Animal Identification System) Premises Identification Number to obtain a NSEP flock/herd identification number. These are separate programs.” This detailed slide set was underwritten by the USDA’s National Scrapie Eradication Program and produced by the staff of the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the University of California and the National Institute for Animal Agriculture. The National Scrapie Eradication Program is coordinated by the USDA and is a joint effort that includes participation by state governments and industry, particularly producers.
June 16, 2008
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