[Jacob-list] Voluntary Scrapie Program

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

The North Texas, State Veterinarian came through to enroll our flock in the 
Voluntary Scrapie Program (VSP).  I was left with the understanding that the 
critical sheep are ewes, not rams.  

The introduction of a sheep from a non-participating VSP flock sets the 
schedule back to the beginning (the ewe apparently being the primary lateral 
spreader) or if the sheep is from a participating VSP flock, the years in the 
VSP is set to the "lower" of the lowest transfered in sheep or the lowest 
sheep in the flock.

I was very surprised that the concern was "high" for ewes and "less" for 
rams.  Has anyone else received a similar message that rates concern higher 
for one sex than the other?  

Fred Horak