Minnesota Scrapie Eradication Program: What Sheep and Goat Producers Need to Know
June 23, 2026
Scrapie is one of the most persistent and economically damaging diseases threatening sheep and goat operations across the United States — and Minnesota producers are on the front lines of a nationwide effort to eliminate it entirely. If you own, buy, sell, or move sheep or goats anywhere in the state, you are subject to a layered set of federal and state regulations designed to track animals, prevent disease spread, and ultimately eradicate scrapie from the U.S. sheep and goat population.
This guide walks you through every major component of the Scrapie Eradication Program as it applies to Minnesota producers — from understanding the disease itself to official identification requirements, flock registration, movement rules, reporting obligations, and the voluntary Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program. Whether you are a first-time producer or a seasoned flock owner, knowing these rules protects your animals, your operation, and your neighbors.
What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Minnesota
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. Like other TSEs such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease) and Chronic Wasting Disease in deer and elk, it is caused by prions — infectious misfolded proteins that damage the central nervous system of affected animals.
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 also contract the disease. Because the incubation period is so long, apparently healthy animals infected with the disease agent can spread it without producers realizing there is a problem.
The name “scrapie” is derived from one of the clinical signs of the condition, wherein affected animals will compulsively scrape off their fleeces against rocks, trees, or fences — the disease apparently causes an itching sensation in the animals. Other clinical signs include excessive lip smacking, altered gaits, and convulsive collapse.
Scrapie is transmitted most often during lambing and kidding, from an infected dam to her own and other offspring in the area through contact with birth products (placenta and placental fluids), colostrum, and milk. Previously contaminated environments may harbor the infectious prion and put healthy animals at risk.
The economic consequences are severe. Infected flocks typically experience significant production losses, and the U.S. sheep and goat industry continues to experience export losses and increased production and disposal costs because the United States is not yet free of scrapie. Minnesota producers are directly affected by these trade restrictions, making participation in the eradication program both a legal requirement and a sound business decision.
Minnesota producers raising sheep and goats alongside other wildlife and livestock should also be aware of the broader animal health landscape in the state. Resources covering reptiles, amphibians, and raptors found on Minnesota farmland can help producers understand the full range of species sharing their environment.
Minnesota’s Role in the National Scrapie Eradication Program
The National Scrapie Eradication Program (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. Coordinated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the program has reduced the prevalence of scrapie in adult sheep sampled at slaughter by over 99 percent.
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 in Minnesota, and the state plays an active role in enforcing and administering these requirements at the producer level.
Minnesota is part of this nationwide program to eliminate scrapie across the United States, and as part of the Scrapie Eradication Program, anyone who buys or sells sheep or goats in Minnesota is required to register with the Board. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) serves as the primary state-level authority responsible for administering the program, issuing official identification, maintaining flock records, and coordinating with USDA-APHIS on enforcement and surveillance.
In 2000, the USDA made a commitment to eradicate scrapie from the United States based on concerns raised by BSE in cattle, the emergence of variant CJD in humans, and trade disparities with Australia and New Zealand. The Accelerated Scrapie Eradication Program was established through an emergency declaration by the Secretary of Agriculture and put into regulation in September 2001.
Official Animal Identification Requirements in Minnesota
All sheep and goats, including wethers, must be officially identified upon movement from one flock or herd to another and before they are commingled with sheep and goats from other flocks and herds. This requirement applies regardless of the animal’s age, breed, or intended use — breeding, exhibition, or slaughter.
Minnesota recognizes several forms of official identification approved under the NSEP. These include:
- Flock/Herd ID Ear Tags: These include the flock ID number beginning with the state abbreviation (maximum nine characters, including state abbreviation) along with a unique herd management number (maximum six characters), and are available for purchase in plastic or metal for sheep and goats born on the premises associated with the flock or herd ID.
- Metal Serial Tags: For use at livestock markets or by accredited veterinarians, these begin with the state abbreviation and are eight characters total, with the last four or five being numerical, and are available in plastic or metal.
- Animal Identification Number (AIN) Tags: AIN ear tags begin with an official country code followed by an additional 12 digits, for 15 digits in total. The official U.S. country code is “840,” and in compliance with federal law, AIN tags must display the U.S. shield if applied to an animal on March 11, 2015, or after.
- Registry Tattoos: Breed registry tattoos that are recorded with a sheep or goat registry association may be used, but upon movement, the animal must be accompanied by a copy of the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) listing tattoo and registration numbers.
- Electronic Identification (EID): EID may only be used in sheep or goats being imported to flocks or herds registered with the Board. The EID number must begin with the prefix 840, unless applied before March 11, 2015. Sheep or goats using EID cannot be imported to a livestock concentration point or be in slaughter channels, and must be accompanied by an electronic reader.
The National Scrapie Eradication Program provides 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. Official tags are available to Minnesota producers after registering for the National Scrapie Eradication Program using the online form on the BAH website. To request tags or get your flock and premises ID numbers, you can also call 1-866-USDA-TAG (1-866-873-2824).
Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Minnesota
As part of the Scrapie Eradication Program, anyone who buys or sells sheep or goats in Minnesota is required to register with the Board. Registration assigns your operation a flock or herd ID number, which is the foundation for all official identification and recordkeeping that follows. Producers may register their herd or flock by contacting the Board at (651) 201-6809 or by submitting the online form available on the BAH website.
Recordkeeping is not optional — it is a mandatory component of the program at both the federal and state levels. Producers are required to follow federal and state regulations for officially identifying their sheep and goats, and must also keep herd records showing what new animals were added and what animals left the herd or flock.
When you apply official ear tags to your animals, detailed records must be maintained for each animal. When official identification ear tags are applied, persons who apply them must maintain records on each animal identified, including the characters on or contained within the ear tag, characters on other official ear tags on the animal, species, sex, age, and type of animal, date of application, and name and address of the premises where the animal was identified.
For tattoos used as official ID, copies of the CVI and necessary registration papers (if applicable) must be sent to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. You can call the Board at 651-201-6809 to record a tattoo or to find out if a tattoo is already recorded.
| Record Type | What to Document | Who Must Keep It |
|---|---|---|
| Ear Tag Application | Tag characters, species, sex, age, date, premises address | Any person applying official tags |
| Animal Acquisition | ID numbers of animals received, source flock, date of arrival | All producers who purchase or acquire sheep/goats |
| Animal Disposition | ID numbers of animals sold or disposed of, destination, date | All producers who sell or dispose of sheep/goats |
| Tattoo Records | Tattoo prefix, flock ID, registration papers, CVI copy | Producers using tattoo as official ID |
Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Minnesota
Movement rules in Minnesota operate on two levels: intrastate (within Minnesota) and interstate (crossing state lines). Both levels require official identification, but interstate movement carries additional documentation requirements.
Intrastate Movement: All sheep and goats must be officially identified when they leave the farm and before they are commingled with sheep or goats from other flocks or herds. All sheep and goats, including wethers, must be officially identified upon movement from one flock or herd to another, and before they are commingled with sheep and goats from other flocks and herds. This applies to sales, exhibitions, shows, and any change of ownership within the state.
States are required to implement and enforce official identification of most sheep and goats on change of ownership intrastate in order to move sheep and goats interstate with minimal restrictions. Minnesota’s strict intrastate ID enforcement is what allows Minnesota producers to move animals across state lines under the standard federal framework rather than facing additional restrictions.
Interstate Movement — Leaving Minnesota: All sheep and goats leaving Minnesota must follow import regulations for the state of destination. You should contact your accredited veterinarian to learn what you need to do to export sheep or goats. InterstateLivestock.com can also be used by accredited veterinarians to determine import regulations for each destination state. A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) is typically required for interstate shipments.
Interstate Movement — Entering Minnesota: All sheep and goats entering Minnesota must follow import regulations, and you should visit the BAH Import Regulations webpage to learn more. Animals arriving with tattoos as official ID must be accompanied by documentation confirming the tattoo prefix is assigned in the National Scrapie Database.
When requested by the producer, accredited veterinarians can apply official eartags, collect and submit samples for official genotype testing, scrapie testing on obex, lymph node, third-eyelid lymphoid tissue, or rectal lymphoid tissue, and issue Certificates of Veterinary Inspection for interstate movement. Establishing a working relationship with an accredited veterinarian before you need to move animals is strongly recommended.
Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Minnesota
Scrapie is a reportable disease in Minnesota. If you observe clinical signs consistent with scrapie in any of your sheep or goats, you are required to report the suspect animal to state or federal animal health authorities. Early reporting is critical — it protects your flock, neighboring operations, and the state’s disease-free status.
Clinical Signs to Watch For:
- Signs of central nervous system problems, most commonly incoordination or poor muscle control (ataxia)
- Compulsive rubbing or scratching against fences, posts, or structures
- Behavioral changes, tremors, and incoordination that progress to recumbency and death
- Unexplained weight loss despite adequate nutrition
- Excessive lip smacking or altered gait
The accreditation standards 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.
Sample Submission and Testing: Producers, accredited veterinarians, APHIS representatives, and state animal health employees may collect and submit samples from adult sheep or goats. Producers may remove and submit whole heads or report deceased sheep or goats and ask for help with submitting samples. APHIS provides shipping boxes and pre-printed, postage-paid labels at no cost to producers and accredited veterinarians, and will pay for scrapie testing of up to 30 animals per flock per year.
Quarantine Procedures: When a flock is confirmed as infected or exposed, APHIS and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health work together to classify the flock and implement a response plan. If scrapie develops in a flock, the risk of further spread can be minimized through removal of genetically susceptible exposed sheep and exposed goats, and if all susceptible exposed animals are not removed, live-animal testing and removal of test-positive animals.
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 burying, landfilling, or incinerating placenta and soiled bedding immediately following lambing — is also required when a flock is under active management for scrapie.
Genotype Testing in Minnesota: Voluntary genetic testing of sheep to determine susceptibility to scrapie is available to Minnesota producers. It is desired to breed with rams that have at least one “R” factor, and selecting and retaining rams with “RR” in their genetic code will have the most impact on developing a scrapie-resistant flock. Genotype testing is available through private veterinarians, or the test may be conducted by producers for management purposes. For further information regarding genotype testing and a list of approved laboratories, contact the Board at 651-201-6809.
Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Minnesota
The Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) is a voluntary program for sheep and goat producers to enhance the marketability of their animals by certifying their flock as scrapie-free. While participation is not required, enrollment in the SFCP provides significant competitive and commercial advantages, particularly for producers selling breeding stock or pursuing export markets.
The SFCP is open to all sheep and goat producers in the United States. The overall objective 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: 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 Levels | Primary Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Export | Export Monitored / Export Certified | Certify flocks as scrapie-free for international trade eligibility |
| Select | Select Monitored | Reduce scrapie risk and improve 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.
Show and Exhibition Standards: Enrollment in the SFCP also comes with biosecurity standards that apply when your animals attend shows or are in transport. The SFCP standards provide guidelines for reducing the risk of scrapie exposure while animals are at shows or in transport, including separating enrolled animals from non-enrolled animals by a vacant pen, barn alley, or a solid barrier sufficient to prevent physical contact. Limited contact in show rings minimizes the risk of disease transmission.
At exhibits or sales, animals enrolled in the “Export” category may not commingle with non-enrolled pregnant animals or animals that are within 60 days post lambing or kidding. These rules protect the certification status you have worked to achieve and prevent re-exposure from lower-status animals.
How to Enroll in Minnesota: All flock owners may apply to enter the voluntary scrapie flock certification program by contacting the APHIS Veterinary Services office in the area they live. You can also contact the Minnesota Board of Animal Health directly at (651) 201-6809 to discuss enrollment options and requirements specific to your operation. Full program standards are available through USDA-APHIS.
Minnesota producers who want to stay informed about the full scope of animal health regulations in the state — including rules governing other species that may share your property — can explore additional resources through the Minnesota animal law pages and wildlife guides covering species such as eagles, owls, and rabbits found across the state’s diverse agricultural and natural landscapes.
Compliance with Minnesota’s scrapie eradication requirements is not merely a regulatory obligation — it is a practical investment in the health of your flock, the value of your animals, and the long-term viability of the state’s sheep and goat industry. By registering your flock, applying official identification, maintaining accurate records, following movement rules, and reporting any suspects promptly, you contribute directly to the final push to make the United States scrapie-free. Contact the Minnesota Board of Animal Health at (651) 201-6809 or visit the USDA-APHIS NVAP scrapie guidance page to get started or update your compliance status today.