A new USDA regulation to improve disease traceability in sheep and goats has been published in the Federal Register. The rule which was first proposed in 2015 has been anticipated by the U.S. sheep and goat industry since 2016.
The American Sheep Industry Association’s Peter Orwick says some changes will be noticed by goat producers and those moving animals in slaughter channels or transporting unidentified sheep or goats.
“This latest installment is a regulatory update by USDA APHIS to take the final step for eradication of scrapie in sheep in the United States” said Orwick. “So, for most producers there won’t be a change. If you’re a goat producer, this rule brings you closer on par with what sheep producers have already been doing for nearly 20 years in scrapie eradication and animal I.D.”
He says the new rule finally recognizes all the hard work put forth by U.S. sheep and goat producers.
APHIS is recognizing all the genetic testing that we’ve done over the last 15 years to get scrapie resistance built into our commercial herds particularly our purebred and breeding animals. They also want to recognize that the sheep industry has its great I.D. system that really can’t be replicated anywhere else in livestock.
Orwick says the new regulation also ensures the overall health and safety of U.S. sheep and goats to our customers.
“Exactly” said Orwick. “If you have breeding stock to sell that are disease free, you’re able to trade seed stock with other countries.”
The new rule takes effect on April 24 of this year.
