MILITARY TAGS Sample Tags Description Sample Tags Description
Official ID Tags an Invaluable Toold1cqrq366w3ike.cloudfront.net/http/DOCUMENT/SheepUSA/...in this...
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e goal of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) and the U.S. sheep industry is to eradicate scrapie from our borders by 2017. In addition, it is the objective to have the United States recognized as scrapie free in accordance with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). is quarterly publication is created specifically for those of you in the field who are also working to achieve this goal. is newsletter brings together, into one spot, current information from all 50 states, as well as from the U.S. Department of Agricul- ture and any other organization providing scrapie news, and reports it back to the field. If you have first-hand accounts that you believe would be relevant for others to read or have information that you would like included in this newsletter, please email [email protected]. September 2014 WASHINGTON — While overall participation is encouraging, animal scientists and livestock officials continue to encourage pro- ducers to take steps that will help them reach the ultimate goal of eradicating scrapie. e industry’s top three requests: the use of official ID by sheep and goat producers, submission of mature dead sheep and goats for scrapie testing and reporting of suspect animals. Officials with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently noted that producers can actually save time and money by avoiding tagging fees at market while helping to eradi- cate scrapie by applying free official ID to their sheep and goats before they leave the farm or ranch. “As we reach the final years of scrapie eradication, it becomes more important than ever to trace infected animals to the flock of birth in order to find and remove the last remaining scrapie infec- tion in the nation,” said APHIS epidemiologist Dr. Charles Gaiser. “We have come too far in the eradication of scrapie to give up now.” Gaiser pointed to a recent review of several states that showed, on average, only 50 percent of sheep and goats arriving at local markets or slaughter plants were identified to the farm of origin or birth. “Once these animals go through dealers or markets it is oſten difficult and sometimes impossible to trace infected animals to the flock of birth or origin,” he explained. “ese barriers to tracing prevent us from cleaning up scrapie infected flocks, delaying the eradication of scrapie from the United States, which limits the ex- port market for U.S. sheep and goats and their products reducing the value of U.S. sheep and goats.” More direct, Gaiser said the effort to eradicate scrapie can only be successful with the help and commitment of those who raise sheep and goats. “We ask farmers and ranchers to do their part to eradicate scrapie from the U.S and open export markets for our animals by applying official ID to their sheep and goats, reporting suspect animals, and making dead mature animals available for scrapie testing,” Gaiser repeated. e National Scrapie Eradication Program provides scrapie pro- gram official ID free of charge to producers (call 866-USDA-TAG to get tags), testing of exposed flocks and indemnity for infected flocks. Contact your State or local VS office for more information. Official ID Tags an Invaluable Tool Submitting Mature Heads APHIS provides shipping boxes and labels for the submission of heads for scrapie testing at no cost to producers. Many veterinary diagnostic laboratories also accept heads for scrapie testing. To request a box or more information on sample submission, contact the veterinary services area office for your state. State contact information is available at www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices. Area offices can also be reached through the toll free number, 866-873-2824. To view the National Scrapie Eradication Program September 2014 Monthly Report, prepared by the U.S. Department of Ag- riculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Veterinary Services, go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/ animal_diseases/scrapie/downloads/monthly_scrapie_report.pdf
Transcript of Official ID Tags an Invaluable Toold1cqrq366w3ike.cloudfront.net/http/DOCUMENT/SheepUSA/...in this...
The goal of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) and the U.S. sheep industry is to eradicate scrapie from our borders by 2017. In addition, it is the objective to have the United States recognized as scrapie free in accordance with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). This quarterly publication is created specifically for those of you in the field who are also working to achieve this goal.
This newsletter brings together, into one spot, current information from all 50 states, as well as from the U.S. Department of Agricul-ture and any other organization providing scrapie news, and reports it back to the field.
If you have first-hand accounts that you believe would be relevant for others to read or have information that you would like included in this newsletter, please email [email protected].
September 2014
WASHINGTON — While overall participation is encouraging, animal scientists and livestock officials continue to encourage pro-ducers to take steps that will help them reach the ultimate goal of eradicating scrapie.
The industry’s top three requests: the use of official ID by sheep and goat producers, submission of mature dead sheep and goats for scrapie testing and reporting of suspect animals.
Officials with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently noted that producers can actually save time and money by avoiding tagging fees at market while helping to eradi-cate scrapie by applying free official ID to their sheep and goats before they leave the farm or ranch.
“As we reach the final years of scrapie eradication, it becomes more important than ever to trace infected animals to the flock of birth in order to find and remove the last remaining scrapie infec-tion in the nation,” said APHIS epidemiologist Dr. Charles Gaiser. “We have come too far in the eradication of scrapie to give up now.”
Gaiser pointed to a recent review of several states that showed, on average, only 50 percent of sheep and goats arriving at local markets or slaughter plants were identified to the farm of origin
or birth.“Once these animals go through dealers or markets it is often
difficult and sometimes impossible to trace infected animals to the flock of birth or origin,” he explained. “These barriers to tracing prevent us from cleaning up scrapie infected flocks, delaying the eradication of scrapie from the United States, which limits the ex-port market for U.S. sheep and goats and their products reducing the value of U.S. sheep and goats.”
More direct, Gaiser said the effort to eradicate scrapie can only be successful with the help and commitment of those who raise sheep and goats.
“We ask farmers and ranchers to do their part to eradicate scrapie from the U.S and open export markets for our animals by applying official ID to their sheep and goats, reporting suspect animals, and making dead mature animals available for scrapie testing,” Gaiser repeated.
The National Scrapie Eradication Program provides scrapie pro-gram official ID free of charge to producers (call 866-USDA-TAG to get tags), testing of exposed flocks and indemnity for infected flocks. Contact your State or local VS office for more information.
Official ID Tags an Invaluable Tool
Submitting Mature HeadsAPHIS provides shipping boxes and labels for the submission of heads for scrapie testing at no cost to producers. Many veterinary
diagnostic laboratories also accept heads for scrapie testing. To request a box or more information on sample submission, contact the veterinary services area office for your state. State contact information is available at www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices. Area offices can also be reached through the toll free number, 866-873-2824.
To view the National Scrapie Eradication Program September 2014 Monthly Report, prepared by the U.S. Department of Ag-riculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Veterinary Services, go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/scrapie/downloads/monthly_scrapie_report.pdf
Animals Sampled for Scrapie TestingSheep and Goats
In Fiscal Year 2014, as of Aug. 31, 201443,590 animals have been sampled for scrapie testing: 41,362 RSSS and 2,228 on-farm samples
35,666 sheep and 7,924 goats. 15 sheep and 10 goats have tested positive
Regulatory Scrapie Slaughter Surveillance (RSSS) Statistics
Since April 1, 2003 In FY 2014 (as of August 31) 439,274 samples collected 41,362 samples collected (7,337 from goats) 474 NVSL* confirmed positives 5 NVSL confirmed positives *National Veterinary Services Laboratories
Websites Dedicated to the Eradication of ScrapieAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service: www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/scrapie
Maryland Small Ruminant Page: www.sheepandgoat.com/scrapie.htmlNational Institute of Animal Agriculture: www.animalagriculture.org/scrapie/scrapie.htm
Scrapie SharePoint: http://animalhealth/scrapie/default.aspx(Federal employees can access this password-protected site by emailing [email protected] to receive a password.
State employees can request a copy on CD.)
