Scrapie laws??

[Milk n' Honey]

With kidding season just ahead, I had some questions about scrapie laws. Am I supposed to be enrolled in something? I had someone tell me that if I got caught selling goats off my property that I would get fined without them. Is this true? What is the deal? I think this is stupid but if I am supposed to do it, then I guess I better. What do you all think? I'm in Indiana, BTW.

[Sweet Goats]

I can not speak for you state, but here in Colorado we have to have them for any show period. I was told by out state people that you have to have them in order to sell, but how are they going to know who sells them. I persoonally think it is a good idea. I would hate to see someones goat come down with scrapies, not have them tagged and then all the goats have to be put down because they can not track one. The problem is the tags we got here in Colorado, if you were the first ones to register, the darn tags break really easy, so you are always retaggin them and then you have to keep up with all the numbers. If the tag doen not break then it will rip the ear.
Those of you who do tag, can I make a suggestion to you all. If you put the part of the tag that has the info on it,on the underside of the tag, "the inside of the ear", it will help to prevent retagging some. I have noticed that when my tags break off, it is only the part on the top of the ear, but the part in the ear is still attached. It has helped me for not tagging so much.
Milk and Honey, I would contact your Dept of Ag in your state.

[fishhead]

Would it be helpful to photograph each goat along with the tag number?

[Bearfootfarm]

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahps/scrapie/

There is both a voluntary "Scrapie Eradication Program" and a voluntary "Scrapie Free Certification Program". With either one your assigned a flock number and can get free tags to use. If a tag is lost or destroyed, and you still have part of it , a duplicate can be made with the same number. Premier Sheep Supplies will also make tags with the same numbers with an "R" suffix to use as a replacement For the eradication program it can all be done online or through the mail. The certification program involves an inspection of your flock by a state veterinarian

[DocM]

My scrapies ID is the same as my ADGA tattoo/ID number. You can request it as such. I don't tag my lamanchas obviously, but I do tag the sheep. My state scrapies program provided the tags and the application gun. I just pull the tags off after show season and put them in envelopes with their other papers, retag when I need to take them off-farm. The small plastic tags will pull apart/fall off before they tear the ear. I pop them off with a jack knife and a little pressure.

[Wendy]

Well, I am also in Indiana & I can tell you that as of September 1st of last year you were supposed to have registered your farm for a premise ID # to be able to sell animals. You can call the Indiana State Board of Health for more info: 1-800-255-6508. I have scrapie tags, but also registered my ADGA tattoo with them so if the goats are tattooed, they do not need the tag.

[Milk n' Honey]

Thanks everyone!! Wendy, thank you so much. That is what I was hoping. I will give them a call. Thanks again!!

[Caelma]

I'm under the impression scrapies in goats is 'very' rare.
Is this true or not?

[neehifarm]

In Michigan, I believe there have been 7 reported cases of goats with Scrapies in 60 years.

[mygoat]

I'm in MI (fairly close) and I think to sell you must have scrapies stuff done... Or maybe that's just out of state. However, I refuse to tag my goats for thier own wellbeing, So that's that. I may look into it, as they will all be tattooed, so maybe I could register the tattoo with an eradication program. If I can, you might also be able to do something like that in IN. Oh, but I don't think you have to if your goats have never been in contact with sheep.... Anyone know of good websites about this? Especially if by state, that would be helpful, lol.

[goatmarm]

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[Carrie C]

Here, I am told, any goat with registration papers from any registry with the proper tag/tatoo passes inspection.
And yes, scrapie is rare. http://www.animalagriculture.org/scr...apie/QandA.htm
This is a link from
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahps/s...eradicate.html
It says there have been 7 cases of scrapie in goats in 10 years (the sheet was created in 2001) and since 1947 about 1600 goats AND sheep have been diagnosed with scrapie.
~Carrie C.
Edited to add: also, here in WA, you can have a tatoo ID. You can request that it be the same as your registry ID. However, you have to put WA in front of it on non-registered animals. At least, that's what I've been told by the state vet's office.