Scrapie . . . what are the laws in your State or Country

[rockdoveranch]

In Texas the voluntary Scrapie program is much more strict than the mandatory program. To the best of my knowledge, if you are participating in the voluntary program, someone from the USDA comes out and checks each of your animals once a year. For flocks to be certified as scrapie free you must be in the voluntary program.

The mandatory program is more of a follow the tagging rules and honor system.

http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/animal_health/scrapie/scrapie_tag_req.pdf

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Well, I'm not exactly sure what our state laws are, but don't all sheep and goats have to be tagged if they leave the property? I know to sell anywhere (at any sale barns) you have to have a Scrapie tag. I've had a premise ID for about 10 yrs or something...once the program came out I think. I've never had anyone come out and look at my animals, all I did was call APHIS and they sent a tagger and tags for free.

 

[rockdoveranch]

Well, I'm not exactly sure what our state laws are, but don't all sheep and goats have to be tagged if they leave the property? I know to sell anywhere (at any sale barns) you have to have a Scrapie tag. I've had a premise ID for about 10 yrs or something...once the program came out I think. I've never had anyone come out and look at my animals, all I did was call APHIS and they sent a tagger and tags for free.

According to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), under "Which Animals Must Be Tagged," is says all sheep 18 months of age and older, all breeding sheep regardless of age, sexually intact show or exhibition sheep and goats, and breeding goats, and all goats 18 months and older, that have commingled with sheep, must be tagged.

Then it goes on to say that they and the USDA require tags when a"they" are moved from their farm to be sold in interstate commerce, commingled with sheep and goats from any other farm. And, the TAHC, in 2002, implemented state requirements for tagging the animals before they are moved from their farm to be sold intrastate and moved to exhibitions.

So, does this mean that animals under 18 months do not need to be tagged if they do not fall in any of the above categories?

I don't think the Texas laws are really clear.

Guess I am going to call and ask next week. (I am always gonna call. This time I will.)

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I'm not really sure. I guess I should read up on the laws, but I just give all my sheep scrapie tags. I don't bother using my own tags at all anymore.

 

[rockdoveranch]

. . . but I just give all my sheep scrapie tags. I don't bother using my own tags at all anymore.

+1

The question on tags in the ear came up when we were purchasing our ram lamb yesterday. It was my understanding that since he was under 18 months old he did not have to be tagged to be transported intrastate and that we could put our own tag in when we got home. I know they do not have to be tagged unless they leave the premises as long as good records are kept, but the age thing is confusing . . . at least to me even though he will be used for breeding.

We all finally decided to tag him.

To me, the Texas law sounds like if you are bringing an animal to market and they are under 18 months they do not have to be tagged. You just need your scrapie premises identification number.

When asking butchers I am told nothing is needed; just the animal.

Laws = Confusion.

 

[goodhors]

I would want ANY age sheep or lambs, tagged at the seller's farm, before I took it anyplace. I would tag any lambs I sold with my farm tags.

Part of the tagging purpose is that "birth to death" tracking of meat animals. I would not want my farm tags on a purchased animal that could turn out to have something. I am NOT responsible for YOUR livestock and tag proves I was not the point of origin. Could still lose my animals, but I didn't start the problem. I will stand for my own farm tagged animals being clean when they left my farm.

So far as I know, if the Gov't. can prove you have Scrapies in your animals, whether imported or on your base stock, the herd is destroyed. According to my reading, Scrapies can be going in new lambs from the mother, passed between sheep who carry it. No treatment works or is acceptable to the Gov't. Loss expense is your problem. AND the "germs" of scrapies will stay dormant in the ground for MANY years, to reinfect sheep that may be purchased later on. Lots of screaming years ago when some imported sheep, Heritage/Rare breeds with low numbers, were found to have Scrapies. No special exemptions, they were killed and disposed of. Probably incinerated to prevent any spread of disease.

Cattle are SUPPOSED to have an RFID tag on them, placed at the farm of origin. Again, birth to death tracking of a meat animal. Michigan where I live is supposed to be quite strict about this. However talking to a person who regularly buys and sells cattle, his buyers sometimes will cut the ear tags off to prevent animals being tracked backwards later on. He said they just don't want to deal with the paperwork, run trailers at night to avoid inspections.

I know with our calves, they MUST be tagged with the RFID to be allowed to go to 4-H activities and sold at the Fair. Sheep also had to have their Scrapies ear tags to go to Fair, sell at the Auction and be butchered. They won't butcher the animals without a Scrapies tag or an RFID tag in the ears. I expect pigs have tags as well, but we don't have pigs and I haven't dealt with their rules.

All the sheep breeders I know, tag the lambs when they are born, with both Scrapies and number IDs for their record book. Some have HUNDREDS of lambs a season. I would be doing that if I were you, even with the convoluted wording of the Texas laws. You will then be legally covered, all are tagged correctly, whatever the circumstances your sheep and lambs get into later on.

 

[rockdoveranch]

I was just reviewing the Voluntary program and it says that in the Voluntary program all animals are to be tagged with the exception of animals under 12 months that are to be moved to slaughter. You can only be certified Scrapie Free if you are participating in the Voluntary program and your animals are scrapie free for 5 years.

The voluntary program has someone at the state or federal level check each animal in your flock every year, however, it is pretty much an honor system by the shepherd.

I have known shepherds who were not aware there was a scrapie program, mandatory or voluntary.

Hope more members comment here as I am curious what is going on in their state or country.

 

[rockdoveranch]

This site is VERY informative and posts U.S. Federal. http://www.eradicatescrapie.org/

This link from the above site lists each state's requirements and those each state had added to the Federal law. http://www.eradicatescrapie.org/State ID Requirements.html

I found where a couple of years ago BackYardChickens had a thread on this topic. When I was in a hair sheep forum group this topic went on for a long time because many sheep and goat people are not aware of the laws and it was the first they had heard of them.

I find this to be an interesting and informative topic; something for people like me who started backyard herds without coming from ranching and farming families.

 

[20kidsonhill]

I am not up on the laws, but her in VA, we have to scrapie tag our goats leaving our farm if they do not have tattoos and registration paperwork sold with them. A lot of people don't want me putting them in their ears, so I put them in an envelope and write the numbers down, I figure they could fall out anyway over the years, But I inform them, if they plan on bringing them into the stockyards or reselling them, they are suppose to have the breeders information with them.

We got the tags for free, but if we wanted the better quality plastic onse, instead of the metal clamp onse, then I think we had to pay some for them.



I don't think the scrappie police are going to come and get you, or anything, it seems pretty relaxed around here, most people not seeming to worried about it.

 

[secuono]

So how does this really work in Virginia for sheep?
If my sheep are for personal meat and bred for pets for others and I never take them to shows/auctions, do I need this?
I don't understand the point of the tags if they aren't even tested. Only ones that are positive should be removed, it's stupid that they will track one sick sheep that may of gotten sick at the new owners house and they come kill all of my healthy animals!