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by Jackie Nix |
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I just went to a great goat meeting this weekend (the NC Meat Goat Assoc. annual meeting and Field Day in Raleigh, NC) in which I heard a representative from the USDA explain the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program. This interested me so much that I thought that I would take the time to tell you about it in this issue. The Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program for sheep and goat owners is implemented by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). But before I explain the program to you, let me tell you about scrapie. Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease of the central nervous system of sheep and goats. It has been primarily seen in sheep, mainly Suffolks, but at least seven cases of scrapie have been reported in goats in the U.S., so goat owners still need to remain vigilant. Scrapie has been recognized as a disease for more than 250 years and is found practically world-wide, with only Australia and New Zealand being scrapie-free. Symptoms of scrapie include: subtle changes in behavior; increased excitability; followed by intense itching; loss of coordination; weight loss despite retention of appetite; biting of feet and limbs; gait abnormalities, including high stepping of the forelegs, hopping like a rabbit, and swaying of the back end; and apparently normal animals that fall down in a convulsive state when stressed with sudden noise or excessive movement. Animals may live 1 to 6 months after the onset of symptoms, but death will soon follow. Even though the exact mode of transmission is not known, scrapie is believed to be spread from females to their kids or lambs and to other young animals through contact with the placenta and placental fluids. The infective agent travels both from animal-to-animal contact and through indirect contact with contaminated premises. Currently, there is no scientific evidence that suggests that males spread scrapie. Incidence of scrapie in the United States has been very hard to document for a number of reasons. First the incubation period is very long; 2-5 years with no clinical signs. Secondly, the symptoms of scrapie are often confused with those of listeriosis, rabies, external parasites, pregnancy toxemia or poisoning. Third, there is no approved test for scrapie in live animals, so the only way to confirm scrapie is through microscopic examination of the brain at necropsy. Fourth and finally, previous USDA programs required total destruction of infected flocks, thus discouraging farmers from reporting cases of scrapie. Which brings me to the present voluntary program. The Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program, implemented on October 1, 1992, provides participating producers with the opportunity to protect their flock from scrapie and to enhance marketability of their animals through certifying their origin in scrapie-free flocks. In addition, APHIS regulations restrict the interstate movement of sheep and goats from scrapie-infected and source flocks. This program was modified in October 1997 to make it more practical for producers.Program participants agree to report scrapie-suspect animals immediately, provide official identification of all animals and maintain required records and retain them for a minimum of five years after an animal dies or is removed for the flock, assist in annual inspections, submit tissues from scrapie-suspect animals to an official laboratory and to report to the State Certification Board acquisitions of animals from flocks with lower status or from flocks not participating in the program. |
Briefly, the program is divided into two categories, the Complete Monitored Category and the Selective Monitored Category. In the Complete Monitored Category, a flock is assigned an enrollment date and a status date. The status date is the best risk indicator for scrapie. The older the date, the longer the flock has been meeting program standards, and the less likely it is to have scrapie-infected animals. Initially, the status date is the same as the enrollment date. But if the flock acquires animals from a lower-status herd or one that does not participate in the program, the status date is adjusted to reflect the lowest category animal. Bucks and rams are not included in this requirement. Bucks and rams may be acquired from any flock (other than source or infected flocks), including those not enrolled in the program without jeopardizing their status date. Once a flock meets the program standards for 5 consecutive years, it advances to certified status. Animals from certified flocks are unlikely to be infected with scrapie. Females may only be purchased from other certified herds to maintain this status, and it is strongly recommended that bucks and rams be purchased from certified or enrolled flocks only. Most participating sheep and goat producers have chosen the Complete Monitored Category. The Selective Monitored Category was designed for slaughter lamb producers to allow for scrapie surveillance in large production flocks. Only male animals over 1 year of age must be officially identified. Producers agree to submit cull animals for scrapie diagnosis and animals which have died. (The number of animals submitted per year depends on flock size). Additionally, an accredited veterinarian must inspect all cull ewes and does for clinical signs of scrapie prior to slaughter. Selective status is maintained indefinitely, as long as the flock meets category requirements. For more information about the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program contact USDA, APHIS Veterinary Services at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ or call 1-800-545-USDA(8732) or 301-734-6954. Sources: Scrapie in Sheep and Goats; Interstate Movement Restrictions and Indemnity Program. Federal Register. Vol. 64, No. 229.November 30, 1999. Scrapie Factsheet - USDA APHIS Veterinary Services. September 1999. Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program Factsheet - USDA APHIS Veterinary Services. July 1998. The Merck Veterinary Manual, 7th edition. C.M. Fraser, et. al. Merck & Co., Inc. 1991. p 622-623. Jackie Nix is an Agricultural Extension Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. You may e-mail questions to her at Jackie_Nix@ncsu.edu .This and other goat related information can be found at her website at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/lenoir/staff/jnix/Ag/Goat/ We spend so much time looking for the right person to love or finding fault with those we already love, when instead we should be perfecting the love we give.
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