Iowa Scrapie Eradication Program: Rules Every Sheep and Goat Producer Must Know
July 23, 2026
Scrapie is one of the most persistent and costly disease threats facing sheep and goat producers in the United States — and Iowa producers are not exempt from its reach. A fatal neurological disease with no cure and an incubation period that can stretch years, scrapie demands a structured, state-enforced response.
If you raise sheep or goats in Iowa, you are legally required to participate in the National Scrapie Eradication Program. That means understanding identification rules, recordkeeping obligations, movement restrictions, and when you must report a suspected case. This guide walks you through every major requirement under Iowa’s scrapie regulations so you can stay compliant and protect your flock.
What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Iowa
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats and is one of a group of diseases known as Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE or “Mad Cow Disease”) in cattle, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer and elk, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in humans are also in this group.
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, and most are infected as young lambs or kids, though adult animals can get it too. This long silent phase is precisely what makes scrapie so dangerous — infected animals can spread the disease long before anyone suspects a problem.
Clinical signs of scrapie include scratching and rubbing, loss of coordination, weight loss, biting of feet and legs, changes in behavior or temperament, head-pressing, lip smacking, and gait abnormalities. Eventually, the animal is unable to stand and dies.
The primary route of scrapie transmission occurs when susceptible animals are exposed to and ingest placenta and/or birth fluids of a scrapie-infected ewe or doe at lambing/kidding or after an abortion. There is also research indicating that scrapie may be transmitted by feeding colostrum or milk from an infected ewe or doe to a susceptible lamb or kid.
It is estimated that the presence of scrapie in the US costs sheep and goat producers $10–20 million dollars per year. These costs stem from lost export of breeding stock, semen, and embryos to other countries, increased disposal costs, and losses in productivity. Iowa’s participation in the national eradication effort is therefore both a legal obligation and an economic necessity for the state’s sheep and goat industry. You can learn more about Iowa’s broader animal regulations by reviewing the state’s roadkill laws in Iowa, which also govern how animal carcasses are managed.
Iowa’s Role in the National Scrapie Eradication Program
The National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP) began in 2001 when the sheep industry believed scrapie was a disease that could and should be eradicated and proposed the eradication of scrapie to the USDA. Iowa joined as a cooperative partner in this state-federal-industry effort and has maintained its own distinct regulatory framework ever since.
The NSEP is a cooperative State-Federal-industry program working to eradicate classical scrapie from the United States and meet World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) criteria for disease freedom. To date, the program has eliminated scrapie in 99 percent of U.S. sheep and goats.
Since 1993, the state of Iowa has had 86 herds that have been infected with scrapie and has made steady progress in eradicating the disease. The last case of scrapie in an Iowa producer’s herd was in a goat herd in January 2014. While that milestone is encouraging, the program remains active and mandatory.
Iowa’s regulations operate under Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 64 and align with federal standards set by USDA APHIS under 9 CFR Part 79. The program in Iowa has its own regulations distinct to Iowa and may differ somewhat from what other states are doing. This means you cannot assume that compliance with federal minimums is sufficient — you must verify Iowa-specific requirements directly.
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, along with more consistent animal identification and recordkeeping requirements for sheep and goats.
Official Animal Identification Requirements in Iowa
Official identification is the backbone of Iowa’s scrapie eradication effort. Without traceable ID on your animals, the entire system of disease tracing breaks down. Iowa law specifies exactly which animals must be tagged, what counts as official ID, and when that ID must be applied.
Which Animals Require Official ID
Animals required to be identified as part of the National Scrapie Eradication Program must be identified before they enter interstate commerce or if ownership changes. In Iowa, the requirement extends to intrastate movement as well in many circumstances.
All sexually intact goats of any age and goat wethers 18 months of age and older are required to have scrapie ID — except goats and sheep under 18 months going directly to slaughter or to slaughter channels — when they enter interstate commerce. Animals under 18 months of age moving directly to a slaughter facility (not through an auction market or dealer) do not require scrapie ID.
Males that are leased out must have scrapie ID that identifies them to the owner’s flock, and the owner must have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) for each of the males’ movements.
Approved Forms of Official Identification
For sheep, official identification consists of: (1) approved ear tags which include the flock ID number combined with an individual animal number; (2) approved unique, alphanumeric serial-numbered ear tags; or (3) ear tags approved for use with the scrapie flock certification program.
For goats, official identification consists of any method of identification approved by the USDA, as outlined in 9 CFR 79.2. Goat owners can generally use USDA-approved tattoos for scrapie ID unless they are moving the goats to a livestock market or to slaughter.
Producers should consider the different devices available — including metal or plastic tags, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, and RFID implants (there are restrictions on the use of implants) — and choose what works best for them.
Registered animals may be identified with a registration tattoo instead of a tag, as long as the animal is accompanied by a copy of the registration certificate issued by an APHIS-approved registry listing the current owner, or the registration certificate and a completed transfer of ownership form dated within 60 days that lists the current owner.
How and When to Apply Tags
Animals required to be officially identified shall have official identification applied upon, or before, departure from the current flock of origin by the flock owner or the owner’s agent. An animal that already has identification recognized as official for Iowa does not need to have any additional official identification applied.
When selling animals that require a scrapie ID eartag, if the animal does not already have an official scrapie ID eartag, place your official scrapie ID eartag in the animal before moving it from the farm. If the animal was not born in your flock and still has the original official scrapie ID eartag from the previous flock, you do not need to apply your eartag. If the original eartag has fallen out, apply your scrapie flock eartag and make a record showing the tag you applied and where and when you acquired that animal. Never remove official ID.
Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Iowa
Proper recordkeeping is not optional under Iowa’s scrapie program — it is a legal requirement. Records allow state and federal officials to trace animals quickly in the event of a positive diagnosis, which is essential for containing any outbreak.
Getting a Flock ID Number
Before you can order official scrapie tags, you need a flock or premises ID number assigned by USDA APHIS or the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Flock ID tag numbers are the producer’s flock ID assigned by APHIS or the state, followed by an individual animal number. Producers can call 1-866-USDA-TAG (1-866-873-2824) to get a flock ID and see if they are eligible to receive free tags.
What Records You Must Keep
Producers are required to maintain records for five years on all animals requiring official ID that enter or depart from their flocks. Records must include the name and address and scrapie flock number of the other party, the flock of origin of the animal, the number of animals, a description of the animal, and the date of the transaction.
Iowa’s IDALS provides standardized record forms to help producers stay organized. The forms cover four key categories:
- Records of purchases and acquired additions
- Records of sheep or goats sold or disposed of
- Records of officially identified animals
- Records of replacement of official ID
You must create a record of all sales showing the number of animals sold, a description of the animal, the date, and the market or buyer. It is also recommended that you record the official scrapie ID of the animals.
Owner-Hauler Statements
An owner will need to fill out an Owner-Hauler Statement when they send any sheep or goats requiring scrapie ID that do not have scrapie tags in them. Iowa provides its own Owner-Hauler Statement form, which is available through the IDALS Animal Industry Division. This document serves as a temporary record during transport when physical tags have not yet been applied.
Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Iowa
Movement rules are among the most detailed aspects of Iowa’s scrapie program. Whether you are selling locally or shipping animals across state lines, different documentation and identification requirements apply depending on the destination and purpose of the movement.
Interstate Movement
If you are crossing state lines, you also need an Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI) for your animals. The ICVI must be issued by an accredited veterinarian and must include the animal’s tag number.
Animals that require official identification and enter the state of Iowa from other states must be identified with identification that complies with 9 CFR 79.2. For sheep originating from out of state, ear tags that comply with 9 CFR 79.2 will be considered official identification in Iowa. For goats, either ear tags or tattoos that comply with 9 CFR 79.2 will be considered official identification in Iowa.
USDA-APHIS has defined interstate commerce broadly, so that most goats and sheep are considered to be in interstate commerce when they leave their farm. Do not assume a short-distance sale to a neighboring state is exempt — the rules apply broadly.
Intrastate Movement and Private Sales
All sheep and goats sold privately other than to slaughter require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued by an Iowa-licensed, accredited veterinarian in order to move. This applies even to sales that stay entirely within Iowa’s borders.
Sales through licensed auction markets follow a slightly different path. Iowa allows a veterinary signature-stamped bill of sale in lieu of a CVI when animals are sold through a licensed auction market and will remain in Iowa. The bill of sale serves as a document allowed in Iowa in lieu of a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for use when animals are sold through a licensed auction market and will remain in Iowa.
Exemptions from Movement ID Requirements
Not every animal movement triggers the full identification requirement. Federal and Iowa rules recognize several limited exemptions:
- Sheep or goats moved for grazing or similar management reasons without a change of ownership, when moved from a premises owned or leased by the owner to another premises owned or leased by the same owner — provided the premises is recorded in the National Scrapie Database as an additional flock premises and commingling does not occur with unidentified animals.
- Castrated sheep or goats under 18 months of age.
- In rare circumstances, some Iowa goats being sold privately in Iowa are not required to have scrapie ID. Contact the Iowa IDALS Animal Industry Division for details on this narrow exemption.
Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Iowa
Iowa’s scrapie program places significant responsibility on producers and veterinarians to identify and report suspected cases. Speed of detection directly determines how effectively a potential outbreak can be contained.
Reporting Obligations
Scrapie is a reportable disease, which means suspected cases must be reported to state and federal veterinary officials. If you observe clinical signs consistent with scrapie in any of your sheep or goats — such as unexplained weight loss, incoordination, excessive scratching, or unusual gait — you are required to contact your veterinarian and notify state officials promptly.
The accreditation standards for veterinarians require reporting of live or dead scrapie suspects to state and federal authorities. In addition to this critical role, accredited veterinarians are the producers’ primary source of education about all aspects of the program, including identification, recordkeeping, and movement requirements.
Scrapie Testing
An “official test” means any test used for the diagnosis of scrapie in a live or dead animal, approved by APHIS for that use, and conducted at an approved laboratory. Iowa requires that all testing be performed at APHIS-approved laboratories.
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. When requested by the producer, accredited veterinarians can either remove and submit whole heads or collect and submit specified tissues, and can also issue Certificates of Veterinary Inspection for interstate movement.
The Regulatory Scrapie Slaughter Surveillance (RSSS) program is a key national component that Iowa participates in. Scrapie testing of adult sheep and goats at slaughter is conducted through the RSSS program. The number of scrapie-positive sheep found at slaughter has been steadily decreasing, reflecting the program’s long-term effectiveness.
Quarantine and Flock Management After a Positive Finding
When a positive case is confirmed in Iowa, state and federal officials move quickly to contain the spread. When animals infected with scrapie are detected, their scrapie ID can be used by regulatory officials to trace them back to their birth flock and other flocks they have spent time in. Regulatory officials then work with the producer to develop a plan to “clean up” or eradicate scrapie from the flock.
A “permit” means an official document that has been issued by an APHIS or department representative or an authorized accredited veterinarian and allows the interstate movement of animals under quarantine. Animals in quarantine cannot be moved without this permit.
Until a more sensitive, cost-effective live-animal test is available, the risk of introducing scrapie into a flock can be substantially reduced by maintaining a closed ewe flock, by acquiring female animals only from certified free flocks, zones, or countries, and/or by acquiring ewes that are genetically resistant or less susceptible.
Iowa also uses a Post-Exposure Management and Monitoring Plan (PEMMP) for flocks that have had exposure to scrapie. Five years of monitoring is required under this plan, consistent with normal epidemiological practice and guidance in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program standards.
Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Iowa
Beyond the mandatory baseline requirements, Iowa sheep and goat producers can voluntarily pursue an elevated level of scrapie protection through the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program. Participation can open new markets and demonstrate a strong commitment to herd health.
What the SFCP Is
The National Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) increases the marketability of sheep and goats from flocks that have demonstrated freedom from scrapie disease by adhering to program standards. 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).
Program Categories
The SFCP operates under two primary categories, each with distinct requirements and benefits:
| Category | Primary Objective | Key Requirements | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export Category | Certify flocks as scrapie-free establishments | Annual inspections, animal inventory reconciliation, official ID, recordkeeping, and animal sampling | Greater domestic and international marketing opportunities |
| Select Category | Enhance scrapie surveillance and reporting | Submit samples from at least one mature animal for testing every 1–3 years depending on flock size | Increased program visibility and buyer confidence |
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.
Animals from Export Certified flocks are considered highly unlikely to be infected with scrapie and have greater marketing opportunities both domestically and internationally.
The objective of the Select Category is to enhance scrapie surveillance by increasing the reporting of animals with clinical signs of scrapie and submission of samples for scrapie testing. Select flocks are required to submit samples from at least one mature animal for scrapie testing every 1–3 years, depending on the size of the flock or herd.
SFCP Tags and Purchasing
SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program. Regular program tags may be purchased by any producer who has a flock or premises ID. If you are not yet enrolled in the SFCP, you must use standard program tags rather than SFCP-designated tags.
Why Certification Matters for Iowa Producers
Iowa producers who participate in the SFCP gain a measurable competitive advantage. Certified flocks can access export markets that are otherwise closed to producers from countries or regions not recognized as scrapie-free. 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. Certification at the flock level is the closest available pathway to demonstrating scrapie-free status to foreign buyers and domestic purchasers who demand verified flock health history.
Iowa’s broader agricultural landscape — home to diverse livestock operations and a wide range of wildlife — makes disease traceability especially important. Just as Iowa tracks and manages its diverse wildlife populations, including snakes in Iowa and poisonous animals in Iowa, the state takes a similarly systematic approach to livestock disease management. Producers who invest in SFCP certification not only protect their own flocks but contribute directly to Iowa’s long-term goal of achieving WOAH-recognized scrapie-free status.
For questions about the Iowa Scrapie Program, contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Animal Industry Division, or reach USDA APHIS through the national scrapie hotline at 1-866-USDA-TAG (866-873-2824). Iowa-specific program contacts, tag order forms, and record templates are available directly through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship scrapie program page.