Sheep & Goats

The small ruminant industry is an important part of Missouri Agriculture. The Animal Health team works with producers to prevent and control diseases to protect the health, quality and marketability of Missouri sheep and goats. The risks of disease introductions are greater than ever because of expanding international trade and travel. A highly transmissible foreign animal disease can spread rapidly if undetected, or detected but not reported. The Animal Health team recognizes this potential risk and approaches issues accordingly when dealing with diseases within the various segments of the sheep and goat industries.

Some sheep and goat diseases are zoonotic, meaning they can spread to humans. People can contract zoonotic diseases through direct contact with infected animals, consuming contaminated food or water, or inhaling disease particles. Flies, ticks, mosquitoes and other pests can also spread diseases from animals to people.

There are a variety of diseases that sheep and goat owners should be aware of, including some that are zoonotic. Some diseases of concern are listed below:

  • Zoonotic Diseases:
    • Anthrax
    • Brucella melitensis
    • Chlamydiosis
    • Contagious ecthyma (Orf/Sore Mouth)
    • Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii)
    • Ringworm
  • Not Zoonotic
    • Caseous Lymphadenitits
    • Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
    • Johne’s
    • Scrapie

Scrapie

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system of sheep and goats. It is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. Infected flocks typically experience significant production losses. The U.S. sheep and goat industry continues to experience export losses and increased production and disposal costs because the United States is not free of scrapie. Scrapie is difficult to detect. It can take two to five years for an animal to show signs of disease, and current diagnostic tests require brain or lymphoid tissue. Animals typically live one to six months after they begin to show signs. Most are infected as young lambs or kids, but adult animals can also become infected. Animals that appear healthy can be infected with the disease agent and can spread it.

Federal and State regulations require producers to officially identify their sheep and goats under the National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP). You must also keep herd records, showing what animals were added and what animals left the herd/flock. To order scrapie tags, call 1-866-USDA-Tag (866-873-2824) or 573-658-9844.

The National Scrapie Eradication Program has two major components: a regulatory eradication program called the Accelerated Scrapie Eradication Program (ASEP), and a voluntary certification program called the Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP).

National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP)

The National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP), a cooperative state-federal-industry program, is working to eradicate classical scrapie from the United States and meet World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) criteria for disease freedom. To date, the program has eliminated scrapie in 99 percent of U.S. sheep and goats. The program is conducting targeted sampling of subpopulations that have a higher prevalence of scrapie than the general sheep/goat population to find the remaining cases.

Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP)

All flock owners may apply to enter the voluntary scrapie flock certification program by contacting the APHIS veterinary service office in the area they live. The application package includes:

  • A list of animals in the flock, including breed, gender and official program identification (tattoo, microchip, or APHIS-approved tamper-resistant ear tag);
  • A statement by the flock’s accredited veterinarian declaring the flock free of scrapie; and
  • An inspection report authorized by a state or federal regulatory official verifying official identification and other application information.

Program Requirements

The program requirements vary according to the category of participation.

All participants enrolled in both the “Select” and “Export” categories agree to meet the following requirements:

  • Immediately report scrapie-suspect animals to animal health officials;
    • Submit tissues for scrapie sampling from:
      • All animals over 12 months of age showing clinical signs of scrapie;
      • All animals, at any age, that test suspect, inconclusive or positive for scrapie on a live animal test, or have been designated a scrapie suspect by a State or Federal regulatory official or accredited veterinarian;
  • Allow breed associations and registries, livestock markets and packers to disclose records to APHIS and/or State animal health officials; and
  • Provide the facilities and personnel necessary to assist in inspections.

Participants enrolled in the “Export” category only agree to meet the following additional requirements:

  • Submit tissues from all animals over 18 months of age that are found dead (including euthanized animals);
  • Officially identify all animals in the flock that are one year of age or older (animals less than one year old must be identified whenever a change of ownership occurs, except for those in slaughter channels);
  • Undergo an annual inspection, at which time animals are reconciled with the flock records, checked for official identification, and examined for evidence of scrapie;
  • Maintain required records, such as:
    • Owners must account for all acquisitions, departures, births and deaths
    • Records must be retained for a minimum of seven years after an animal dies or is removed from the flock
  • Report all sheep or goat acquisitions from flocks with lower status or from nonparticipating flocks; and
  • Have all animals undergo veterinary inspection prior to culling or be slaughtered at a state or federally inspected facility.

Program Categories

Export Category

The objective of the Export category is to monitor and sample participating flocks for evidence of scrapie, leading to “Export Certified” status and recognition of negligible scrapie risk. Flocks in this category have one of two statuses, depending on the amount of time they have continuously met program standards and the number of animals sampled: “Export Monitored” and “Export Certified.”

Export Monitored When a flock enters the program in the “Export” category, it is assigned “Export Monitored” status. The flock is assigned an enrollment date (i.e., the date of the flock’s initial enrollment inspection) and a status date. The flock will increase the time in status as long as it continues to meet program requirements. However, if a flock acquires or commingles with animals of a lesser status, or does not meet its annual sampling requirements, its status date changes to reflect the date of this occurrence. The older the status date, the longer the flock has continuously met program standards.

Flocks in the “Export” category can acquire or commingle with rams or bucks from any flock other than source or infected flocks, including those not enrolled in the program. Based on current scientific evidence, rams and bucks are not known to be at risk for spreading scrapie. These animals can maintain their own status date and, generally, do not affect the status date of the flock.

Ewes and does, however, are known to transmit scrapie. Therefore, to maintain scrapie-free status, flock owners may not obtain ewes or does from nonparticipating flocks or from flocks with lower status. Flock owners who do not comply with this requirement will have their flock’s status date adjusted to reflect the addition of the lowest category animal.

Export Certified: Animals from “Export Certified” flocks meet the World Organization for Animal Health’s standards to be recognized as free of disease. In order to achieve “Export Certified” status, a flock must gain a minimum of seven years in status and sample 30 mature animals. This sampling minimum may be achieved through slaughter, necropsy and live animal testing. In addition to this standard sampling protocol, there are two alternative sampling protocols, including testing all genetically susceptible animals sold and testing the foundation flock.

Select Category

The “Select” category is designed for participants who wish to monitor their animals for signs of scrapie through animal sampling and recommended flock management strategies. There are no inspections in this category, although an in-person orientation is offered upon enrollment. Participants agree to sample at least one mature animal every one to three years, depending on flock size. APHIS monitors compliance with the sampling requirement through a national sampling database and publishes the date on which the last animal was sampled on its public website. “Select” status is maintained indefinitely, as long as the flock continues to meet the category requirements.

Suspension or Removal of Flock Status

A participating flock is suspended when it is either undergoing a scrapie investigation or a noncompliance investigation. Its status will be reinstated, downgraded or the flock will be removed from the program, depending on the outcome of the investigation.

If scrapie is diagnosed in a flock participating in any program category, the flock is removed from the program. Animal health officials conduct an epidemiologic investigation to identify both the source of the disease and any additional exposed animals. Officials work with the flock owner to develop and implement a flock plan, including depopulating animals at high-risk for developing scrapie to reduce the risk of spreading infection and cleaning and disinfecting the facility. Following completion of the flock plan, a producer may apply for readmission to the SFCP.

Exhibition and Transportation Guidelines

The SFCP standards provide guidelines for reducing the risk of scrapie exposure while animals are at shows or in transport. Guidelines include separating enrolled animals from non-enrolled animals by a vacant pen, barn alley, or a solid barrier sufficient to prevent physical contact. Limited contact in show rings minimizes the risk of disease transmission. At exhibits or sales, animals enrolled in the “Export” category may not commingle with non-enrolled pregnant animals or animals that are within 60 days post lambing or kidding.

Submitting Samples

Sample Submissions

Producers, accredited veterinarians, APHIS representatives and State animal health employees may collect and submit samples from adult sheep or goats. APHIS provides shipping boxes and pre-printed, postage-paid labels at no cost to producers and accredited veterinarians. APHIS will pay for scrapie testing of up to 30 animals per flock per year. Producers may remove and submit whole heads or report deceased sheep or goats and ask for help with submitting samples. Accredited veterinarians can either remove and submit whole heads or collect and submit specified tissues.

To request a box, or for more guidance on collecting and submitting samples, contact the APHIS Area Veterinarian in Charge in your State or your State's designated scrapie epidemiologist(DSE).

Shipping Instructions

Whole head samples: Ship the cooler containing the head with frozen cold packs overnight to Remington Locker, APHIS' sample collection facility:

18795 S 580 W
Remington, IN 47977
Phone: 317-347-3100
Fax: 219-261-2357
Email: remington.locker@usda.gov

Be sure to inform the facility of the shipment’s delivery date.

For more information, or for help, call toll-free (866) USDA-TAG or (866) 873-2824.

Helpful Resources