[Jacob-list] Scrapie

[Victoria da Roza]

In California you attain the term "scrapie free" which
you can use for advertising after 5 years of being on
the program without bringing any ewes in that are not
from a voluntary scrapie flock of at least the same
number of years.  So 5 is the magic number.  If you
bring in a ewe from a flock not on a voluntary scrapie
program, you return to year zero and start the 5 years
again.
   The voluntary program also entails a vet inspector
who visits your flock every year and looks over the
sheep and your records to see they are tagged, healthy
and you have recorded what flock they went to. If they
went in the freezer they are not of concern cause it
takes years for scrapies to become evident. I have had
the same State vet all the years I have been on the
program and really enjoy her visits.  She is full of
new information about sheep and if I have a question,
she will research it and send me articles on that
topic.
   If we all knew that we had pure Jacobs maybe I
would think I did not need to follow the voluntary
program but we know that in the past when Jacobs were
rare, they were crossed with other breeds to increase
their numbers.  I am not sure that Dorpers, for
example, do not have a scrapies tendency that is more
than Jacobs.  I remember reading an article about
which breeds are more scrapie prone and some are very
prone.  I guess another way to eliminate such a factor
is to buy sheep with letters further down the alphabet
to make sure we know they are as pure Jacobs as
possible.
   Another way is to genetically test your sheep to
see if they are RR.  I wonder how many of our sheep
are really RR(most resistant to scrapies).  That would
be further proof that we could say Jacobs are less
scrapie prone than other breeds.  I think I will have
the State vet genetically test my flock next year when
she visits.  I think that would be another marketing
tool, to advertise that the parents are RR if you get
that result...there are 5 other letter combinations
that you could end up with however.
   Even in the voluntary program there is no
requirement to test.  The State will come in and test
if you have scrapies in a sheep or a scrapies sheep is
traced back to your flock by eartag.  Then it is up to
the State vet what happens to your flock and the more
records you have, the more arguments you have in not
eliminating all your sheep.  This is my understanding
from the State vet.  This is why we go to the little
more work of being on the voluntary program.  It is
still an individual shepherd decision. 
   Even though I have been on the voluntary program
for many years, I have gone back to zero several times
to bring in out of state ewes.  But, now feel I will
only buy from flocks that are on a voluntary program
so I eventually will get to the 5 years or keep my
flock closed, except for rams.   Victoria
--- jacob-list-request at jacobsheep.com wrote:


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> Today's Topics:

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>    1. Re: Jacob-list Digest, Vol 36, Issue 16

> (Gooch)

> 

> 

>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

> 

> Message: 1

> Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 05:55:59 -0700 (PDT)

> From: Gooch <guschi73 at yahoo.com>

> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Jacob-list Digest, Vol 36,

> Issue 16

> To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

> Message-ID:

> <952150.60365.qm at web55005.mail.re4.yahoo.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> 

> Regarding the Mandatory Scrapie program- I have a

> feeling a word was missing from Mick's sentence- I

> think it was supposed to read "you don't have to

> TEST", but I could be wrong.

> 

> The Mandatory program= tags only when leaving your

> farm and carcasses may be checked at slaughter;

> Voluntary program = test and tag by producer for 5

> years to achieve "free" status, then only tag as

> needed.

> 

> Voluntary flocks don't need to be closed, but they

> can only obtain ewes from other certified flocks.

> Rams can be acquired from either type of flock (ewes

> are the ones that transmit the disease).

> 

> Here's the fact sheet for the voluntary program:

>

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/scrapie/downloads/vsfcp.pdf

>  

>    Shel

> 

> ~*~*~*~*~*~

> ~ Goochland Acres ~

> 

> ~ Asylum Farm ~

> 

> 

> 

> wrong!  you do have to.  there's been a MANDAYORY

> scrapie program 

> for several years now!  you dob\n't have to sign up

> for the voluntary 

> program, which is more comprehensive and requires a

> closed fkock, but MANDATORY 

> means MANDATORY!  SORRY ABOUT TYPINGM USING OINE

> FINGER, BROKEN WRIST,AMONG 

> OTHER THINGS.  GOOGLE APHIS TO FIND OUT WHAT YPU

> HAVE TO DO FOR MANDATORY 

> PROGRAM.

> 

> 

>   ----- Original Message ----- 

> 

>   From: 

>   Schmick54 at aol.com 

> 

>   To: paigebowser at gmail.com ;

> jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 

> 

>   Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:01 

>   PM

> 

>   Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] scrape 

>   program

> 

>   

> 

> 

>   It is a farm that regularly tests for scrapie. 

> All sheep these days 

>   are required to have a tag identifying them in

> case the sheep develops the 

>   disease.You can find out about Scrapie by going

> to: www.animalagriculture.org/scrapie.  

>   It will tell you all you need to know and tell you

> where to get your tags and 

>   how to become a scrapie program farm. You don't

> have to ! You just need the 

>   tags. Scrapie is rather rare in Jacob Sheep. At

> least, no cases have been 

>   reported.

> 

>    

> 

>   Mick

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

>      

>

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> End of Jacob-list Digest, Vol 36, Issue 17

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> 



Victoria
Castle Rock Farm
Jacob Sheep & Nigerian Dwarf Goats
www.castlerockfarm.net


       
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