January 2002

Sheep Scrapie Eradication Program

By Rodney Kott, Extension Sheep Specialist

As part of a new Federal program, many sheep and goats are required to be officially identified in order to be transported across state lines.  This program is part of a sheep industry initiated effort to eradicate scrapie from the US sheep population.  Implementation of this rule will facilitate the tracing of infected animals to their flock of origin, where initial infection most probably occurred.  As this rule goes into affect, there are a number of questions that need to be answered in order for sheep producers to be able to comply.

Question 1:  Which sheep or goats need to be officially identified? 

Official identification is required on the following classes of sheep and goats when crossing state lines.

            1)         All sheep over 18 months of age

            2)         All breeding sheep

            3)         All sexually intact sheep or goats for exhibition

            4)         All breeding goats in contact with sheep

Note:  Feeder lambs under 18 months of age for later movement to slaughter are exempt from identification and thus do not need to be tagged. In addition, animals moved for grazing in accord with state requirements to property owned, leased or allotted to that owner or corporation can be moved with minimal identification requirements.

Question 2:  Do I need to tag my sheep while they are on my ranch?

No.  These requirements only apply to interstate travel.  However, in practice, you should make sure any sheep or goats potentially requiring an official identification as outlined in Question 1 are tagged when they leave your ranch.  Id requirements require trace back to ranch of birth on sheep born after Jan 1, 2002 and thus for practical reasons all sheep except lambs intended for slaughter under 18 months of age should be tagged when they leave your place.

Question 3:  If I sell sheep to my neighbor and they stay in the state, do they need to be tagged?

Technically no.  The rule applies only to interstate commerce.  However, when those breeding animals are sold as culls and are transported to a slaughter facility out of state, they will need an official identification and that identification should trace that animal's origin of birth.  What that means is that if you purchase replacement ewes or rams that are untagged, they will need to be identified and records kept tracing that tag to the origin of birth when you sell them as culls and they are transported to an out of state slaughter facility.  In practice, I would not purchase any sheep or goats that will require official identification at some point in it's life (any sheep not going to slaughter under 18 months of age) without an official identification being present before taking delivery.  In short, do not buy any replacement breeding sheep without official identification.

Question 4:  What is an official identification?

In most cases, an official identification is an approved ear tag.  Flocks will be assigned a premise ID number.  At that point, producers can order official contract metal or plastic ear tags at no cost.  Other non-contract ear tags, varying in color and type may be purchased from approved ear tag companies at producer's expense.  In some cases, registered nose brands or tattoos may qualify as official methods of identification.  Official premise ID numbers and free ear tags can be obtained by contacting APHIS, Veterinary Services office in Helena (406-449-5407 or toll free 1-866-873-2824).

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