We are receiving several phone calls in regards to producers not identifying sheep and goats for the USDA-APHIS Scrapie Eradication Program.
All sheep and goats must be identified with USDA approved scrapie identification. This identification is illegal to remove because it is federally mandated. There are a couple different methods to officially identify your livestock, but it is the producer’s responsibility.
Identification begins with the producer. The producer must have this identification on site and officially identify the animal before it leaves their property. The producer must keep records of the animal for a minimum of 5 years.
There are some exceptions but as a 4-H or FFA exhibitor there are no guarantees that these exceptions will be followed to perpetuity. So, Ohio 4-H, Ohio State Fair, and Clermont Fair require that all sheep and goats have a scrapie identification before tagging in and it follows that animal forever.
If you have questions regarding this program, please contact Gigi Neal, ANR Educator at the Extension office at 513-732-7070 or neal.331@osu.edu .
For more information about the National Scrapie Identification Program, click here.
