West Virginia Scrapie Eradication Program: Rules Every Sheep and Goat Producer Must Know
June 22, 2026
If you raise sheep or goats in West Virginia, the Scrapie Eradication Program is not optional — it applies to your operation regardless of flock size, breed, or how many animals you own. Scrapie is a fatal, untreatable disease, and federal and state rules exist specifically to track, contain, and ultimately eliminate it from U.S. flocks and herds.
Understanding what the program requires in West Virginia helps you avoid quarantine actions, stay eligible to sell and move animals, and protect both your livestock investment and the broader industry. This guide walks you through every major component of the program — from official identification and recordkeeping to interstate movement rules and voluntary certification.
What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in West Virginia
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. There is no cure, no vaccine, and no treatment. Once a flock is infected, the consequences for your operation can be severe and long-lasting.
It can take 2 to 5 years for an animal to show signs of disease, and animals typically live only 1 to 6 months after they begin to show signs. That long incubation window is precisely what makes scrapie so dangerous — infected animals can spread the disease well before any symptoms appear.
The scrapie agent is thought to be spread most commonly from the ewe to her offspring and to other lambs in contemporary lambing groups through contact with the placenta and placental fluids and through milk and colostrum. This means lambing management is one of your most critical disease-prevention tools.
There are two types of scrapie: classical and nonclassical. Nonclassical scrapie is also referred to as atypical, Nor98, or Nor98-like scrapie, and it appears to occur sporadically in sheep of all common genotypes and goats. The scrapie eradication program focuses on classical scrapie.
Beyond the animal health impact, scrapie carries significant economic consequences. Scrapie currently costs sheep and goat industries approximately $10 to $20 million in lost export opportunities, annually. West Virginia producers are part of the national effort to eliminate this burden. If you also keep goats, reviewing the goat ownership laws in West Virginia alongside scrapie requirements gives you a fuller picture of your compliance obligations.
West Virginia’s Role in the National Scrapie Eradication Program
The National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP), a cooperative State-Federal-industry program, is working to eradicate classical scrapie from the United States and meet World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) criteria for disease freedom. West Virginia participates in this program as a consistent state, meaning the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) enforces both federal baseline requirements and any state-specific rules that apply to your operation.
Since 1952, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has worked to control and eradicate scrapie in the United States, with the NSEP goals being to eradicate classical scrapie from the United States and to meet World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) criteria for disease freedom.
The National Scrapie Eradication Program, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has reduced the prevalence of scrapie in adult sheep sampled at slaughter by over 99 percent. Despite this progress, the work is not finished.
To declare the United States “scrapie-free,” APHIS must prove to the world that testing has been conducted in all sheep and goat populations. That is why owner submission of samples from sheep and goats over 18 months of age found dead or euthanized on farm is extremely important.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is the primary state agency overseeing livestock ownership, and it administers health, identification, and disease control programs that apply directly to goat and sheep owners. For questions specific to West Virginia, you can contact the WVDA Animal Health Division at 304-558-2214.
Official Animal Identification Requirements in West Virginia
Official identification is the cornerstone of the entire scrapie eradication effort. Without it, you cannot legally move animals off your premises, sell them, or exhibit them. The USDA’s National Scrapie Eradication Program requires that all goats and sheep leaving their birth premises be individually identified with an official ear tag or other approved identification method, and this requirement applies regardless of herd size or whether you’re selling, showing, or simply transporting your animals.
You can obtain free official scrapie tags through the WVDA or your local veterinarian. You can also call 1-866-USDA-TAG (1-866-873-2824) to request tags, obtain a flock ID, or get routing assistance to the correct state or APHIS office.
Several types of official identification are accepted under the program:
- Official ear tags: Flock ID tag numbers consist of the producer’s flock ID assigned by APHIS or the state, followed by an individual animal number.
- Metal serial tags: Metal serial tag numbers have the state postal abbreviation, two letters followed by four numbers.
- Registry tattoos: The Code of Federal Regulations part 79.2 and the National Scrapie Eradication Program Standards allow sheep and goats to be officially identified with registry tattoos for movement in interstate commerce with some exceptions.
- RFID/electronic tags: APHIS is working with sheep and goat organizations to encourage the use of electronic identification to improve the nation’s ability to quickly trace exposed and diseased animals in the event of an outbreak.
Regarding tag availability, the National Scrapie Eradication Program is providing up to 100 plastic flock ID tags free-of-charge to first-time participants in the sheep and goat identification program until available funds are expended, and producers will need to purchase the compatible applicator from the tag manufacturer. No-cost metal tags for producers were discontinued on August 31, 2019.
SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program, while regular program tags may be purchased by any producer who has a flock or premises ID.
Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in West Virginia
To participate in the scrapie program and obtain official tags, you must first have a flock or premises ID assigned by APHIS or the WVDA. This ID ties your animals to a specific location and is the foundation of the traceability system. Without it, you cannot legally order official tags or move animals in commerce.
Once your flock is registered, recordkeeping becomes an ongoing obligation. Since the incubation period for scrapie is typically two to five years, producers should record individual identification numbers and the seller’s premises identification number on purchase and sales records, and these records must be maintained for a minimum of five years.
The five-year recordkeeping rule applies to multiple parties in any transaction:
- The seller must retain records of animals sold, including the buyer’s identity and the official ID numbers of all animals transferred.
- The buyer must retain records of all animals purchased, including the seller’s premises ID and each animal’s official identification number.
- Dealers and market operators are equally responsible for maintaining transaction records and must make them available upon request by the State Veterinarian or a designee.
Individuals may spend about 2 hours a year on recordkeeping, at a time cost of about $34.50, but in fact many of these records of sales and purchases are typically already kept as a normal business practice. If you already maintain purchase invoices and sales receipts, you may already be partially compliant — the key is ensuring those records include official ID numbers and premises IDs for all parties.
West Virginia producers who raise goats alongside sheep should be aware that the identification and recordkeeping requirements for goat owners are consistent with those for sheep owners. There is no separate, lighter-touch standard for goat operations.
Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in West Virginia
Whether you are moving animals across state lines or selling them within West Virginia, specific rules govern what documentation and identification must accompany those animals. Failing to comply can result in animals being turned back, quarantined, or refused at a market.
Importing Animals Into West Virginia
West Virginia requires a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) — commonly called a health certificate — for goats and sheep being imported into the state from other states. If you are purchasing animals from out of state, the seller’s veterinarian must issue a CVI confirming the animals are free from visible signs of contagious disease before they cross the state line.
West Virginia Title 61 requires that breeding sheep and goats being exhibited in WV must either obtain a certificate of veterinary inspection or have an Honor Herd or Honor Flock certificate. Honor Flock and Honor Herd certificates can be obtained through the WVDA, and an on-farm visit may be scheduled by contacting the Animal Health Field Technician in your area or calling 304-558-2214.
Animals entering West Virginia must also originate from a scrapie consistent state. If they do not, they must come from a flock enrolled in the USDA Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP) at the complete monitored or export monitored level.
Exporting Animals Out of West Virginia
When you sell or move animals to another state, you must comply with the destination state’s import requirements in addition to federal rules. Some states have identification requirements that are stricter than federal requirements, so the exceptions listed in federal rules do not apply in all states. For information on each state’s ID and movement requirements, contact the State Veterinarian’s office.
Intrastate Movement and Sales
Even within West Virginia, official identification is required any time animals change ownership or leave their premises of origin. All sheep and goats must have official ID when moving off their premises of origin. This applies to sales at livestock markets, direct farm sales, and transfers to a new owner through any channel.
| Movement Type | Official ID Required | CVI Required |
|---|---|---|
| Intrastate sale (ownership change) | Yes | No (unless exhibition) |
| Interstate import into WV | Yes | Yes |
| Interstate export out of WV | Yes | Per destination state rules |
| Exhibition/fair in WV (breeding stock) | Yes | Yes, or Honor Flock certificate |
| Direct to slaughter (under 18 months, not commingled) | Exempt (federal baseline) | No |
If you are also navigating other livestock-related regulations in the state, the roadkill laws in West Virginia and pit bull laws in West Virginia pages offer additional context on how the state approaches animal regulation more broadly.
Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in West Virginia
Scrapie is a reportable disease in West Virginia. If you suspect an animal in your flock may be showing signs of scrapie — or if an animal dies and you want to submit samples — you have both a regulatory obligation and a practical incentive to act promptly.
Recognizing Scrapie Suspects
Signs of scrapie vary widely among individual animals and develop very slowly. An infected animal may appear normal if left undisturbed at rest. However, when stimulated by a sudden noise, excessive movement, or the stress of handling, the animal may tremble or fall down in a convulsive-like state.
Other signs include incoordination, weight loss despite normal appetite, wool pulling or rubbing, and progressive weakness. Several other problems can cause clinical signs similar to scrapie in sheep, including ovine progressive pneumonia, listeriosis, rabies, external parasites such as lice and mites, pregnancy toxemia, and toxins. A definitive diagnosis requires laboratory testing.
Testing Procedures
The official test currently used for scrapie diagnosis in the United States is immunohistochemistry. Histopathology, Western Blot, and ELISA may be used as supplemental tests or when tissues are not suitable for immunohistochemistry.
Producers, accredited veterinarians, APHIS representatives, and state animal health employees may collect and submit samples from adult sheep or goats. APHIS provides shipping boxes and pre-printed, postage-paid labels at no cost to producers and accredited veterinarians, and APHIS will pay for scrapie testing of up to 30 animals per flock per year.
Submitting samples from animals that die on your farm is one of the most important contributions you can make to the national eradication effort. In order to declare the U.S. “scrapie free,” APHIS must be able to prove that testing has been conducted in all sheep and goat populations, which is why submission of samples from sheep and goats over 18 months of age found dead or euthanized on your farm is extremely important.
Quarantine Rules
If scrapie is confirmed or strongly suspected in your flock, quarantine is mandatory. A diagnostic plan shall be developed and reviewed by the State Veterinarian utilizing approved live diagnostic tests and submission of appropriate samples to an approved laboratory for scrapie testing upon the death or destruction of any animals in a quarantined flock. All flocks shall remain under quarantine until a determination of the status of the flock is made.
Animals that are not needed for testing to determine the status of the flock and that are not high-risk, suspect, or positive animals may be released based on a risk assessment or as provided in a flock plan. All flocks under quarantine shall be examined at least yearly, or more frequently as determined by the State Veterinarian, and an inventory of all animals in the flock recorded with all deaths, sales to slaughter, and destruction accounted for.
Certain diseases in goats and sheep are designated as reportable conditions under West Virginia law, meaning your veterinarian is legally required to notify the WVDA if they diagnose specific conditions in your herd. Reportable diseases relevant to goats and sheep include brucellosis, tuberculosis, and foot-and-mouth disease, among others.
Understanding how West Virginia handles other animal health issues can also be useful context. See the tick season in West Virginia guide for information on vector-borne disease pressure that can affect your flock’s overall health management.
Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in West Virginia
The National Scrapie Eradication Program has two major components: a regulatory eradication program called the Accelerated Scrapie Eradication Program (ASEP) and a voluntary certification program called the Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP). While the ASEP is mandatory, the SFCP is something you choose to pursue — and it comes with real benefits.
What the SFCP Offers
The SFCP is a voluntary program open to all sheep and goat producers in the United States. The overall objective of the SFCP is to minimize the scrapie risk of participating flocks and herds, thereby improving the marketability of animals from participating flocks and herds and contributing to the national scrapie eradication program.
The SFCP identifies scrapie-free flocks by monitoring them over a 5 to 7 year period. During that time, your flock is subject to annual inspections, inventory reconciliation, and specific animal sampling requirements. In exchange, your animals carry a certified status that many buyers — especially export buyers — actively seek out.
Program Categories and Statuses
The SFCP has two categories: Export and Select. The Export category has two statuses (Export Monitored and Export Certified), and the Select category has one status (Select Monitored).
| SFCP Category | Status Options | Primary Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Export | Export Monitored, Export Certified | Certifies flock as scrapie-free; enables international trade |
| Select | Select Monitored | Reduces scrapie risk; improves domestic marketability |
The objective of the Export category is to certify participating flocks and herds as scrapie-free establishments through limiting the acquisition of does and ewes from flocks of the same or higher status, annual inspections including reconciliation of the animal inventory, official individual animal identification requirements, recordkeeping requirements, and animal sampling requirements.
How to Enroll in West Virginia
To enroll your flock in the SFCP, contact the WVDA Animal Health Division or the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services office serving West Virginia. You will need an active premises ID and a current flock inventory. Your flock will be assigned a designated scrapie epidemiologist who will oversee your participation and conduct annual inspections.
SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program. These tags serve as a visible signal to buyers and inspectors that your animals come from a certified-status flock.
Enrollment in the SFCP is particularly valuable if you sell breeding stock, export animals, or want to differentiate your operation in a competitive market. The program provides sheep and goat producers the opportunity to increase the marketability of their animals through demonstrating a negligible scrapie risk in their flock or herd.
For West Virginia producers who want to stay informed about other aspects of animal health and wildlife activity on their property, resources like when bears come out of hibernation in West Virginia and venomous animals in West Virginia can help you manage the full range of risks your livestock may face during the year.
Staying current with your scrapie identification, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations protects your animals, your operation, and the broader West Virginia sheep and goat industry. Contact the WVDA Animal Health Division at 304-558-2214 or reach USDA APHIS at aphis.usda.gov/scrapie for the most current program requirements and enrollment information.