maintaining a closed ewe flock; by acquiring female animals only from certified free 

 flocks, zones, States, or countries; and by acquiring ewes that are genetically resistant. 

 If scrapie develops in a flock, the risk of further spread, reintroduction of the disease, 

 or both can be minimized through 



• Removal of genetically susceptible sheep and exposed goats; 



• Live-animal testing and removal of test-positive animals; 



• Genetic selection; 



• Careful cleaning and disinfection of lambing facilities; 



• Improved management of animals at lambing time with particular attention 

 to segregating them into small groups or keeping them alone when possible, 

 maintaining the risk classification of animals in each group at the same level, and 

 removing and incinerating placenta and soiled bedding immediately following 

 lambing; and 



• When warranted, emplo\ing embryo transfer, cesarean section, or both. 



When a flock exhibits high levels of exposure, total depopulation may be the most 

 cost-effective cleanup strategy. 



The National Scrapie Program — The National Scrapie Program has two major 

 components: the Scrapie Flock Certification I'rogram (SFCP) and an Accelerated 

 Scrapie Eradication Program (ASEP). 



Scrapie Flock Certification Program — The intent of the SFCP is to monitor flocks 

 over a period of 5 years or more to identify those free of scrapie. Scrapie has a long 

 incubation period; thus, a tlock is considered free of the disease if no sheep have been 

 diagnosed with scrapie and there is no clinical evidence of it over a 5-year period. The 

 longer a flock is enrolled and in compliance with the requirements of the program, 

 the more likely the sheep in the flock are free of scrapie. 



The economic value ot animals in enrolled flocks increases the longer they are in 

 the program, especially once the flock is certified. Animals from certified flocks are 

 eligible for export to many countries and are a valuable source for replacement of 



breeding animals in other flocks. 



The SFCP program receives producer input at the national and State levels through 

 the National Oversight Committee and the State Certification Boards. These groups 

 include producers, accredited veterinarians, allied industry representatives. State 

 animal health officials, and APHIS officials. 



Any flock owner may apply to enter the SFCP by contacting the nearest APHIS-VS 

 Area Office. The State Certification Board reviews applications and approves or 

 disapproves admission to the program. The application package consists of 



• A list of animals in the tlock, including breed, gender, and official program 

 identification (tattoo, microchip, or APHIS-approved, tamper-resistant eartag); 



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