Scrapie Eradication Program in Maryland: What Sheep and Goat Producers Need to Know

Scrapie has been devastating sheep and goat flocks across the United States for decades, and Maryland producers are on the front lines of the national effort to eliminate it for good. The National Scrapie Eradication Program, coordinated by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has reduced the prevalence of scrapie in adult sheep sampled at slaughter by over 99 percent. Yet the work is not finished, and your participation as a Maryland producer is essential to reaching the finish line.

Whether you raise a small backyard flock or a large commercial operation, Maryland’s scrapie regulations touch nearly every aspect of how you identify, move, and manage your sheep and goats. This guide walks you through every layer of the program — from understanding the disease itself to enrolling in the voluntary Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program — so you know exactly what is required of you and why it matters.

What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Maryland

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative TSE disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. It is one of a handful of diseases classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), a group also known as prion diseases. Understanding what makes scrapie so dangerous helps explain why Maryland — and the federal government — regulates it so strictly.

Prions are thought to be the causative agent but are still little understood. They are not living infectious organisms like bacteria or viruses, but rather abnormal pathologic agents that seem to induce abnormal folding in normal cells, leading to holes in the tissue — usually the brain. In severe cases, the tissue resembles a sponge, hence the term “spongiform.”

Scrapie is difficult to detect. It can take 2 to 5 years for an animal to show signs of disease, and current diagnostic tests require brain or lymphoid tissue. Animals typically live 1 to 6 months after they begin to show signs. Most are infected as young lambs or kids, but adult animals can get it, too.

Control measures include removal of genetically susceptible exposed sheep and goats, and improved management of animals at lambing time — including segregating them into small groups, maintaining consistent risk classifications within groups, and removing and burying, landfilling, or incinerating placenta and soiled bedding immediately following lambing.

The U.S. sheep and goat industry continues to experience export losses and increased production and disposal costs because the United States is not free of scrapie. For Maryland producers, this translates directly into reduced market access and lower animal values — making eradication a clear economic priority as well as a regulatory one. Maryland is also home to a wide range of agricultural wildlife, from snakes in Maryland to various bird species, which share the landscape with livestock operations across the state.

There are two types of scrapie: classical and nonclassical. Nonclassical scrapie is also referred to as atypical, Nor98, or Nor98-like scrapie. It appears to occur sporadically and has occurred in sheep of all the common genotypes and goats. It is either not transmissible or poorly transmissible under natural conditions. Given this, the scrapie eradication program focuses on classical scrapie.

Maryland’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. Maryland participates as a partner state, with the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) coordinating with USDA APHIS to enforce identification, movement, and surveillance requirements at the state level.

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). Both components apply to Maryland producers, and understanding the distinction between mandatory compliance and voluntary participation is key to managing your operation correctly.

APHIS published a final rule in the Federal Register in 2019, updating scrapie program regulations under 9 CFR 79. The rule established a more flexible approach to disease investigations and affected flock management, and more consistent animal identification and recordkeeping requirements for sheep and goats. The rule also moved specific requirements for official eartags and official identification methods — such as tattoos and implantable electronic ID (microchips) — and indemnity calculations to the NSEP Standards.

Since 2002, the prevalence of scrapie has decreased significantly through existing eradication efforts, largely as a result of effective slaughter surveillance. Since slaughter surveillance started in FY 2003, the percent of cull sheep found positive at slaughter (once adjusted for face color) has decreased 99 percent. Maryland’s continued participation in surveillance and identification programs is critical to maintaining this progress and ultimately achieving national scrapie-free status.

The NSEP operates in three stages: Stage 1 focuses on eradicating scrapie in the U.S. sheep and goat population by finding remaining cases; Stage 2 continues high-level surveillance to ensure no cases remain; and Stage 3 maintains sufficient ongoing monitoring to meet World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) requirements.

Official Animal Identification Requirements in Maryland

Proper animal identification is the cornerstone of the entire scrapie eradication effort. Scrapie tags are required for all sheep and goats leaving the farm in Maryland. This requirement applies regardless of the purpose of movement — whether for sale, exhibition, slaughter, or breeding.

All sheep and goats must have scrapie identification in the form of an official scrapie identification tag, or a legible and healed tattoo matching identification on breed registration paperwork. For goats specifically, scrapie identification is mandatory for all goats in Maryland. According to the MDA’s animal health regulations for small ruminants, all goats must be officially scrapie-identified.

Approved official identification methods include the following:

• Official USDA plastic or metal eartags bearing a unique flock ID number
• Radio-frequency identification (RFID) eartags approved by APHIS
• Implantable electronic transponders (microchips) approved under the NSEP Standards
• Registry tattoos linked to an APHIS-assigned premises identification number (PIN)
• Official scrapie premises identification tattoos — one ear bearing the individual animal number, the other bearing the flock ID

Official identification devices, including eartags and injectable transponders, must be approved by APHIS as being sufficiently tamper-resistant for the intended use, have good retention, and provide a unique identification number for each animal. 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.

To obtain official tags, call 1-866-USDA-TAG (866-873-2824), which has a telephone tree that will gather information to route you to the correct APHIS Veterinary Services or State office. The Maryland Department of Agriculture also provides free metal official identification tags to producers upon request. You can contact MDA Animal Health by calling 410-841-5810 or emailing animal.disease.traceability@maryland.gov.

A microchip ID with official scrapie identification is acceptable if the owner provides the reader. A national premises ID is required to purchase official 840 RFID tags or implantable devices. Note that no-cost metal tags for producers were discontinued on August 31, 2019.

Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Maryland

Before you can receive official identification tags, you must register your premises and obtain a flock ID. Premises registration is key to responding to and minimizing the impact of an animal disease outbreak. The first step in implementing an animal identification system is identifying and registering premises where livestock is congregated. Animal health officials work with federal and state partners along with producers to establish a successful identification program that enables rapid traces to disease suspects and therefore more effective disease control.

Flock ID tag numbers are the producer’s flock ID assigned by APHIS or the State, followed by an individual animal number. A flock or premises ID is required to order tags from approved manufacturers. You can request a premises ID and flock ID by calling 1-866-USDA-TAG or by contacting the MDA Animal Health office directly.

Once your flock is registered and animals are tagged, you must maintain accurate and accessible records. Key recordkeeping obligations under the NSEP include:

1. Purchase and sales records — Record the individual identification numbers of all animals bought or sold, along with the seller’s premises identification number
2. Animal inventory — Maintain a running inventory of all sheep and goats on your premises, including their official ID numbers
3. Movement records — Document all movements of animals off your premises, including destination, date, and the official ID of each animal moved
4. Lambing and breeding records — Track dam and sire information, lambing dates, and any relevant health events
5. Testing records — Retain copies of any genotype test results and scrapie test results associated with your animals

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. This traceback capability is what allows state and federal officials to quickly contain a potential outbreak before it spreads through the broader Maryland sheep and goat population.

The 2019 final rule amended scrapie regulations by changing risk groups and categories established for individual animals and flocks, increasing the use of genetic testing as a means of assigning risk levels to animals, reducing movement restrictions for animals found to be genetically less susceptible or resistant to scrapie, and simplifying, reducing, or removing certain recordkeeping requirements. This means some recordkeeping burdens have been eased for lower-risk animals, but you should confirm your specific obligations with the MDA or your APHIS Veterinary Services contact.

Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Maryland

Movement rules are where Maryland’s scrapie regulations become most consequential for day-to-day operations. Whether you are selling animals at auction, transporting to a show, or buying breeding stock from out of state, you need to understand both the federal baseline and Maryland’s stricter state-level requirements.

The cooperation of sheep and goat producers is needed to find and eliminate the disease when animals move between states as part of interstate commerce or if ownership changes. Some states have identification requirements that are stricter than federal requirements, so the exceptions listed below do not apply in all states. Maryland is one of those states with stricter requirements.

For intrastate movement (within Maryland):

• Official scrapie identification is required for all sheep and goats leaving their premises of origin, including movements to fairs, shows, auctions, and other farms
• Animals moving directly to slaughter without a change of ownership may qualify for limited exceptions — verify with MDA before assuming an exemption applies
• Animals at exhibitions must carry official scrapie ID, as confirmed by MDA fair and show requirements

For interstate movement (entering or leaving Maryland):

• An Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI) is an official document issued by a Federal, State, Tribal, or accredited veterinarian certifying the inspection of animals in preparation for interstate movement.
• All animals must carry official individual identification traceable to their flock of origin
• For goats being imported into Maryland from out of state, animals must originate from a flock in a scrapie-consistent state or from a flock enrolled in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program.
• CVIs must be submitted to the Maryland Department of Agriculture within 5 working days of inspection

Eradication is the goal because achieving scrapie-free status in the United States would significantly enhance trade opportunities and help to stabilize prices for sheep and goats and their products. For Maryland producers who export breeding stock or participate in regional markets, full compliance with movement rules is directly tied to the economic viability of your operation. Maryland’s diverse agricultural landscape — which supports everything from small hobby farms to large livestock operations — also hosts a variety of wildlife including hawks in Maryland and other raptors that are part of the broader ecosystem surrounding your farm.

Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Maryland

Surveillance is the second pillar of the scrapie eradication effort, and Maryland producers play a direct role in it. One of the most difficult aspects of an eradication program is finding the last few cases of the disease. This involves testing sheep and goats that are showing signs suspect of scrapie but also testing those mature animals that may be incubating the disease.

When you must report: Contact your State Veterinarian or the USDA Veterinary Services Office for your state if your sheep or goat, older than 12 months, exhibits clinical signs of scrapie. Clinical signs to watch for include:

• Incoordination or poor muscle control (ataxia)
• Weakness, stumbling, falling down, or difficulty rising
• Severe continuous rubbing or scratching
• Subtle behavioral changes or temperament shifts, especially in early stages
• Weight loss despite a normal appetite
• Animals that appear normal at rest but, if startled or stressed, tremble or fall down as if in a convulsion

Submitting samples: APHIS provides shipping boxes and pre-printed, postage-paid labels at no cost to producers and accredited veterinarians. APHIS will pay for scrapie testing of up to 30 animals per flock per year. Producers may remove and submit whole heads or report deceased sheep or goats and ask for help with submitting samples.

Your submission of samples from sheep and goats over 18 months of age found dead or euthanized on your farm is extremely important. Without producer help, the U.S. will not be able to declare itself free of scrapie, costing the sheep and goat industries approximately $10 to $20 million annually.

Quarantine and flock management after a positive finding: If a scrapie-positive animal is identified in your flock, APHIS and the MDA will work with you to develop a written flock plan. A flock plan is a written flock management agreement signed by the owner of a flock, the accredited veterinarian (if one is employed by the owner), and a State or APHIS representative, in which each participant agrees to undertake actions specified in the plan to control the spread of scrapie from, and eradicate scrapie in, an infected or source flock.

An infected flock is the flock of origin of a female animal that a State or APHIS representative has determined to be a scrapie-positive animal, or any flock in which a State or APHIS representative has determined that a scrapie-positive female animal has resided — unless an epidemiologic investigation shows that the animal did not lamb or abort in the flock. A flock will no longer be considered an infected flock after it has completed the requirements of a flock plan.

Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Maryland

Beyond the mandatory requirements of the NSEP, Maryland producers have the opportunity to voluntarily enroll in the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) — a program that offers significant commercial and regulatory benefits. The National Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) increases the marketability of sheep and goats from flocks that have demonstrated freedom of scrapie disease by adhering to program requirements over time.

The SFCP is a voluntary program that is 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.

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).

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.

Producers exporting live sheep and goats or embryos and semen will find participation to be especially useful and possibly required by receiving countries. If you sell breeding stock to buyers in other states or internationally, SFCP certification is one of the strongest signals of flock health you can provide.

How to enroll in Maryland: To begin the enrollment process, contact the USDA APHIS Scrapie Program or your MDA Animal Health office. You will need an active premises ID and flock ID, a current animal inventory with official identification on all eligible animals, and a willingness to comply with annual inspection and recordkeeping requirements.

SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program. These distinctive tags signal to buyers that your animals come from a certified-monitored flock — a meaningful marketing advantage at auction, in private sales, and for export documentation.

Maryland’s agricultural community — which shares the landscape with a remarkable diversity of wildlife including owls in Maryland and other species — depends on healthy, well-managed livestock operations. Full participation in the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program is one of the most meaningful steps you can take to protect your flock, strengthen your market position, and contribute to the national goal of a scrapie-free United States.

For the most current Maryland-specific requirements, contact the MDA Animal Health office at 410-841-5810 or email animal.disease.traceability@maryland.gov. For federal program information, visit the USDA APHIS Scrapie Program page or call 1-866-USDA-TAG (866-873-2824) to speak with a Veterinary Services representative assigned to Maryland.