2. Brought to you through a Cooperative Agreement with USDA/APHIS Goat Producers are the Key To Eradicating Scrapie in the U.S. Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats that costs producers over 20 million dollars annually through production losses, increased production costs and loss of export revenue.

3. It is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), similar to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Symptoms often don’t appear until 3 to 5 years of age and early signs are often subtle changes in behavior or temperament. This can be followed by scratching and rubbing against fixed objects. Other signs are loss of co- ordination, weight loss despite having a good appetite, biting of feet and limbs, lip smacking, star gazing, and gait abnormalities, including swaying of the back end. What is Scrapie?

4. It consists of two programs working in conjunction: the voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP) which began in 1992, and the National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP) initiated in 2001. NSEP is a cooperative state-federal program designed to find and eradicate classical Scrapie from the United States and meet the World Health Organization for Animal Health (OIE) criteria for disease freedom. NSEP is a mandatory program relying on slaughter surveillance and reporting of Scrapie suspects by producers and veterinarians. What is the Scrapie Eradication Program?

5. On September 10, 2015, APHIS published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to amend the regulations for the National Scrapie Eradication Program. This proposal is the result of new scientific understanding of Scrapie and input from the sheep and goat sectors, as well as input from the public. What is the Proposed Rule to Update the Scrapie Eradication Program?

6. 1) It makes the identification and recordkeeping requirements for goat owners consistent with those for sheep owners. How Does this Proposed Rule Affect Goat Owners?

7. 2) It gives the APHIS Administrator authority to relieve requirements for sheep and goats exposed to Scrapie types, such as NOR98-like, that do not pose a significant risk of transmission. How Does this Proposed Rule Affect Goat Owners?

8. 3) It increases flexibility for how investigations can be conducted and allows the epidemiology in a specific flock to be given more consideration in determining flock and animal status. How Does this Proposed Rule Affect Goat Owners?

9. 4) It removes the requirement to record individual identification already on animals when received or purchased. How Does this Proposed Rule Affect Goat Owners?

10. 5) It adds the requirement for an owner hauler statement for animals in slaughter channels. How Does this Proposed Rule Affect Goat Owners?

11. 1) It requires states to meet surveillance minimums to remain Consistent States. Surveillance minimums are based on the number of breeding sheep or goats in the state. What Other Changes Does this Proposed Rule Make?

12. 2) It moves the following information from the regulation to the APHIS website in the form of Program Standards to allow quicker response to new information. What Other Changes Does this Proposed Rule Make?

13. A) A List of Consistent States. B) Allowed identification devices and methods and restrictions on their use. C) Disease Status classification procedures for flocks and animals. D) Program approved tests for Scrapie and Scrapie susceptibility and procedures for their use. E) Specifics on how fair market value is calculated for indemnity purposes. What Information will the Program Standards Include?

14. They are States that conduct an active State Scrapie program that is consistent with Federal requirements. The current list of Consistent States includes all 50 states. What are Consistent States?

15. Slaughter surveillance, which has been in place since 2003, has resulted in an 80- 90 percent decrease in prevalence in US sheep and goat herds. In order to declare the US “Scrapie free”, we must be able to prove we have conducted testing in all sheep and goat populations. What Needs to be Done?

16. Since mature goats (over 18 months of age – the age when Scrapie can best be detected) seldom go through traditional slaughter channels, goat surveillance is lacking. For this reason, goat producers are the key players in this important effort to protect our US sheep and goat herds. Why Goat Producers are the Key To Eradicating Scrapie in the U.S.

17. WHY – Should Goat Producers Care? WHY – Should Goat Producers Get Involved? WHY?

19. 1) Your herd is at risk! Scrapie is usually transmitted at birth, but animals do not show symptoms until they are 3-5 years of age, making it possible for you to acquire an animal and have it reside in your herd, without showing symptoms for many years, exposing your herd and environment to Scrapie. Protect Your Herd from Disease

20. 2) The US goat and sheep industries will continue to lose revenue (approximately 20 million dollars a year) due to production losses, increased production costs and loss of export revenue. Reduce Loss of Revenue

21. MANY COUNTRIES BAN IMPORTS OF US GOAT GENETICS AND PRODUCTS because we are not an OIE certified “Scrapie free” country. Reduce Loss of Revenue

22. 3) When Scrapie cases are identified, state and federal regulatory agencies attempt to trace animal(s) back to the herd of origin. If the owner of the affected animal has incomplete or inaccurate records, officials may be directed to your herd by mistake. If your herd complies with regulations by correctly identifying animals and keeping accurate records, then you will be able to provide assurance that your herd was not the source of the infected animal. Protect Your Herd from Scrutiny

23. 4) The NSEP, coordinated by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in cooperation with your state officials have regulations in place outlining the need for identification of animals that leave your premises for the purpose of sale, exhibition or slaughter. This information can be found in the APHIS factsheet “NSEP: Animal Identification and Recordkeeping Guide for Sheep and Goats”. IT IS THE LAW

24. 5) Over the years the Scrapie programs have been very successful. When the National Animal ID Programs were proposed in 2001, it was determined that the Scrapie program for sheep and goats goats was working well and no further requirements were needed for sheep and goat producers. THE GOOD NEWS IS

25. 6) More fairs and exhibitions are enforcing state and federal ID regulations. They are often willing to accommodate herds that are enrolled in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program by putting goats in a location that allows compliance with SFCP guidelines. AND

27. “Goats don’t get Scrapie.” Goats do get Scrapie, and may be even more susceptible than sheep. The earlier reported cases were mostly in sheep, but since the NSEP has been in place, the sheep cases have been reduced dramatically, while new goat cases have occurred. MYTH 1

28. “Goats only get Scrapie when comingled with sheep”. Recent cases have occurred in goats that had no history of contact with sheep. MYTH 2

29. “ I don’t have a commercial herd, so this doesn’t concern me”.. People who do not raise goats for sale have herds that may have been accumulated from rescue animals, impulse purchases and livestock sales. The history of these animals is often unknown, and therefore they are a potential threat to your herd. MYTH 3

30. Now that you know the importance of the Scrapie Eradication Program to the US goat herds, what can you do to stay involved and learn the details about the program?

32. Goat Producers are the Key To Eradicating Scrapie in the U.S.

33. Learn to recognize the clinical signs of Scrapie. Visit the Scrapie Disease Information Page.

34. Contact your state veterinarian or the USDA Veterinary Services Office for your state if your goat, older than 12 months, exhibits clinical signs of Scrapie. Testing suspects is the most cost effective way to find Scrapie infected animals. For more information contact the Designated Scrapie Epidemiologist (DSEs) for your state. http://www.eradicatescrapie.org/State%20Federal%20Contacts.html

35. Submit samples or whole heads from goats over 18 months of age that die or are euthanized on your premises. Additional information is available on how you or your veterinarian can submit samples or whole heads for Scrapie testing. Visit the Scrapie submission page for information about Scrapie testing.

36. Call 866-USDA-TAG (855-873-2824) to be connected to your USDA Veterinary Services Office or State Office Veterinarian. The National Scrapie Eradication Program provides free ear tags to sheep and goat producers.

37. If you want to buy a different kind of tag, contact one of the tag companies approved by USDA. Ask for a premises ID and Flock ID number to be assigned to your flock. Ask for the number of tags you will need for 1 year.

38. AllFlex USA, Inc. 972-456-3686 http://www.allflexusa.com USDA Approved Tag Companies Ezid, LLC 970-351-7701 http://www.EZidAvid.com Hasco Tag Company 859-261-6000 http://www.hscotag.com National Band & Tag Co. 859-261-2035 http://www.nationalband.com Premier Sheep Supplies 800-282-6631 http://www.premier1supplies.com Shearwell Data Animal ID 530-743-9045 http://www.livewireproducts.com

39. Goat Producers are the Key To Eradicating Scrapie in the U.S.

40. American Goat Federation US Animal Health Association National Association of Animal Agriculture American Boer Goat Association American Dairy Goat Association American Sheep Industry Association