What's the deal with the USDA Scrapie Tag?

[MrsCountryChick]

I guess all livestock animals have to have one & it's against the law to remove a tag from an animal. It's a USDA federal law I guess. Isn't that just a "law" on animal registry & tracking?

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

I'm not to sure on the law I do know here in Florida you have to have the tag to sell a goat at auction. I was told that the reason was people transported goats and sheep together The sheep gave scabbies to the goats and it is transferable to humans. With the tag if you sell a scabbie goat they can trace it back to your herd. They will then come and test yor herd if you have it they have to be destroyed. My DH just called and got the application for a license to get the tags.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote:
Scrapies affects sheep and goats and is similar to "Mad Cow" disease.

Many states require them to be tagged if being transported or sold, or when mingled with other animals not from your flock/herd.

The tags are free and can be obtained through your State Veterinary office

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/

 

[cassie]

An assigned tattoo from a registration association is acceptable. You do not have to ear tag your goats if you tattoo. I think you have to record your unique letters somewhere. I personally hate ear tags on goats. I don't think you have have to tag wethers either.

 

[kycowgirlchick]

In KY you must have a scrapies tag to sell a goat at a stockyard. They will not accept the animal. But what dont really make sense to me is that I put the original tag in them to represent me. But when I sell a healthy animal are they tracking the next owner?? You would think then the tag needs to be changed.

 

[griffin45]

Tagging goats and sheep for scrapies is a federal law. You cannot transport sheep or goats across state lines with out them being tagged, nor can you sell them at packing plants or auctions. You are not required to tag your animals unless you know that you will be selling at auction or for meat or transporting across state lines.

BTW The tags and the pliers to pliers to put them on are free.

Chris

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

What the flip is a scrapie tag?

 

[MissPrissy]

They are required if an animal (goat and sheep here) is sold for market - meaning to be processed for meat to eat by humans.

We are having our 4H weigh in and scrapie tag check next week for all market animals for the fair.

 

[CoopCrazy]

Quote:
Ditto

 

[MissPrissy]

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the nervous systems of sheep and goats.[1] It is one of several transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), which are related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or "mad cow disease") and chronic wasting disease of deer. Like other spongiform encephalopathies, scrapie is caused by a prion.[2] Scrapie has been known since the 18th century (1732) and does not appear to be transmittable to humans.

The name scrapie is derived from one of the symptoms of the condition, wherein affected animals will compulsively scrape off their fleece against rocks, trees or fences. The disease apparently causes an itching sensation in the animals. Other symptoms include excessive lip-smacking, strange gaits, and convulsive collapse.[3]

Scrapie is infectious and transmissible among similar animals, and so one of the most common ways to contain scrapie (since it is incurable) is to quarantine and destroy those affected. However, scrapie tends to persist in flocks and can also arise apparently spontaneously in flocks that have not previously had cases of the disease. The mechanism of transmission between animals and other aspects of the biology of the disease are only poorly understood and these are active areas of research. Recent studies suggest that prions may be spread through urine and persist in the environment for decades.[4]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrapie


The scrapie tags are issued to a farm by the state department of agriculture.​