Sheep & Goats

Owner/Hauler Statement

Untagged sheep and goats taken to a market/sale barn must be accompanied with an owner/hauler statement. (Wethers under 18 months of age are exempt.) Identifying sheep and goats with official ID, such as a scrapie tag, helps animal health officials trace individual animals to their premises of origin. Providing the market/sale barn with more info about untagged animals improves the traceability of those animals.

Scrapie Information

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. The name "scrapie" was derived from the characteristic scraping infected animals do to relieve itching. However, clinical signs vary widely and develop slowly. Ultimately, over a period of several years, as the infection spreads and develops within a flock, the disease can render an operation economically unviable.

Scrapie/Federal Identification Program Information

Scrapie Ear Tags: Information on ordering tags

Secure Sheep and Wool Supply

The Secure Sheep and Wool Supply Plan was developed to protect the sheep industry in the event of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD). This program provides opportunities for those in the sheep industry to prepare for a potential disease event, along with guidance for developing a plan for maintaining continuity of business during a large-scale disease emergency. This plan can be applied to any major animal disease event involving sheep. Learn more at: Secure Sheep and Wool Supply

Health & Disease Information