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News Release 11-20-2001

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COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCES FEDERAL SCRAPIE REGULATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2001

CHARLESTON, WV — Commissioner of Agriculture, Gus R. Douglass announced that the federal regulation requiring mandatory identification of sheep and goats is in effect. This program is to prevent and eliminate scrapie. Scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy disease that must be controlled.
The sheep that must be identified are:

1. Movement for exhibition:

a) Ewes and rams of any age moving interstate or to an in-state show with out-of- state animals.
b) Market ewe lambs at in-state shows.

2. Movement in feeding and slaughter channels in interstate commerce:

a) Cull ewes or rams over 18 months of age (have second set of incisors).
b) Ewes under 18 months that are pregnant or have lambed.

3. Movement of breeding stock:

a) Rams or ewes of any age that are sold interstate.
b) Ewes and rams born after January 1, 2002 will need to be identified to the flock of birth when they leave one flock or before entering another flock — even for in-state movements.

Registered goats with registration tattoos do not require a tag.

1. Movement for exhibition:

a) Rams and does of any age moving interstate or at an in-state show with out-of- state animals.
b) Market does at in-state shows.

2. Movement of breeding stock:

a) All registered animals.
b) All goats that have resided with sheep.
c) All dairy breed bucks and does.

Scrapie is a serious disease. Animals must be traced to the flocks and herds of their origin when diseased animals are found. Commissioner Douglass concluded by saying, “Tracebacks begin with documented record-keeping.”
For special scrapie tags, applicators and information, call 304/558-2214.

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