Sheep Industry News September 2024

a one-time payment for infected and source flocks. Also added was a voluntary scrapie flock certification program that gave producers whose flocks did not have scrapie the ability to sell sheep to producers who wanted to ensure they were not bringing scrapie into their flocks. The sheep industry came to a crossroads in 1998 – continue the program as is or try to eradicate the disease for good. The industry decided that an all-out effort to eradicate scrapie must be made. So, ASI and its producer members – along with state animal health officials – en tered into a negotiated rulemaking process with USDA to refine the scrapie regulations with the goal of accelerating the eradication of scrapie from the United States. It was a tense and difficult process, culminating in a new final rule in 2001 that required – among other things – the individ ual identification of sheep upon change of ownership. USDA also initiated the Scrapie Ovine Slaughter Sur veillance Study so that progress could be tracked. The first study was conducted in 2002-2003 and showed that nearly 1 in 379 sheep sampled at slaughter tested positive for scrapie. When the nation’s last scrapie case was found that ratio was one positive sheep in 50,000 tested, reflecting the value of the 2001 program changes.

The acceleration toward eradication that the sheep industry wanted has worked and has brought the United States to within three and a half years of being declared scrapie-free. This success reflects the dedication of American sheep producers to improving the health of the national flock. A key – and often overlooked – contributing factor to this significant reduction in scrapie positive sheep is the dedicated effort of sheep producers – namely seedstock producers – who worked diligently to improve scrapie resistance in susceptible breeds. By 2022, more than 70 percent of sheep genotyped were found to be resistant to scrapie. Today, the American sheep industry is coming to another crossroad – continue this fight or end the effort now. A reflection back to 1952, when the disease was thought to be eradicated because no cases were seen and then scrapie was discovered to be raging throughout the country five years later, might give direction. It is because of this long period between infection and clinical signs that the waiting period is seven years. Three more years without a scrapie case would verify the success of the program.

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19mm Ferrule

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HEAVY DUTY 3350 RPM R E 2

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10

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Shearing Oil

110-120 volt 60hz

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Screwdriver

Telephone: +44 1200 427419 Email: info@hornershearing.com www.hornershearing.com

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September 2024 • Sheep Industry News • 11