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

If you raise sheep or goats in Nevada, scrapie regulations affect your operation whether you run a small hobby flock or a large commercial herd. Scrapie is a fatal prion disease with no treatment or cure, and both federal and state rules require you to take specific steps to identify your animals, maintain records, and comply with movement requirements.

Nevada participates in the National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP) alongside all other states, but it also enforces its own state-level regulations that go beyond the federal baseline. Understanding both layers of the program — what USDA requires and what Nevada specifically mandates — is essential for staying compliant and keeping your animals marketable.

This guide walks you through every major component of the Scrapie Eradication Program in Nevada, from the disease itself to flock certification options, so you know exactly what is expected of you as a producer.

What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Nevada

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. First recognized as a disease of sheep in Great Britain and other countries of Western Europe more than 250 years ago, scrapie has been reported throughout the world. In Nevada, where sheep ranching and small-scale goat operations are a meaningful part of the agricultural economy, the disease poses a direct threat to producer livelihoods and interstate commerce.

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. This long incubation period is one of the main reasons regulation is necessary — by the time clinical signs appear, the disease may have already spread silently through a flock.

TSEs are caused by an infectious protein called a prion. After prions are ingested, they enter the lymphatic system and travel to lymph nodes. After many months, the prions are found in the brain where they cause “holes” in the brain tissue giving it a sponge-like appearance. Currently, there is no epidemiological evidence that scrapie is a zoonotic disease. Consuming or working with sheep or goats or their products does not appear to cause scrapie disease in humans.

From an economic standpoint, the stakes are significant. Infected flocks typically experience significant production losses. 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. The presence of scrapie in the United States also prevents the export of breeding stock, semen, and embryos to many other countries. Nevada producers who want access to national and international markets have a direct financial interest in supporting eradication efforts.

Common clinical signs you should watch for in your flock include:

• Incoordination or poor muscle control (ataxia)
• Stumbling, falling down, or difficulty rising
• Severe, continuous rubbing against fences or structures
• Weight loss despite normal appetite
• Changes in behavior or temperament
• Wool loss from rubbing

Sheep and goats are infected with scrapie at a very young age, but may not show symptoms of the disease until two to six years of age. Because of this delay, you may unknowingly sell or purchase infected animals, which is exactly why the identification and traceability requirements described in the sections below exist.

Nevada’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. Nevada, through the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) and its State Veterinarian’s office, is an active participant in this cooperative framework.

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). As a Nevada producer, both components apply to you — the regulatory side is mandatory, while the SFCP is optional but highly beneficial for marketability.

To date, the program has eliminated scrapie in 99 percent of U.S. sheep and goats. However, eradication is not yet complete. While the current program has been very successful in drastically reducing the amount of scrapie in the U.S., cases are still being found. The most recent two cases of scrapie found in the U.S. were sampled at slaughter — a sheep tested in Wisconsin in 2021, and a goat in Indiana in 2019. Nevada’s continued participation in surveillance and identification is critical to closing this gap.

The 2001 revision to scrapie regulations required states 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. Nevada complied with this requirement and has maintained a consistent state status in the NSEP, meaning Nevada producers benefit from streamlined interstate movement rules compared to producers in non-consistent states. You can also learn about brucellosis laws in Nevada, another disease-management regulatory framework that often intersects with sheep and goat operations in the state.

Official Animal Identification Requirements in Nevada

Official identification is the backbone of the entire scrapie eradication effort. Without it, tracing infected animals back to their flock of origin — and stopping disease spread — is impossible. Animals are required by federal and/or state regulations to be identified as part of the National Scrapie Eradication Program before they enter interstate commerce or if ownership changes. Some states have ID requirements that are stricter than federal requirements, so the exceptions listed below do not apply in all states. Nevada is one of those states with additional requirements, so you should not assume that federal minimums are sufficient.

All sheep and goats must have official ID when moving off their premises of origin. The following categories of animals are specifically required to carry official identification:

• All sexually intact (breeding) sheep and goats not moving directly to slaughter
• All sheep over 18 months of age in any movement channel
• All purebred goats and goats that have resided with sheep
• All unaltered sheep and goats presented for exhibition
• Any animal whose ownership is changing, regardless of age

Nevada’s NAC Chapter 571 defines a “breeding animal” as any sexually intact goat or sheep that is not moving through slaughter channels to slaughter. This definition is important because it determines which animals require the most rigorous identification and documentation before they can be moved or sold.

Approved official identification methods under the NSEP include:

1. Official eartags — plastic or metal tags bearing the U.S. shield and a unique flock or serial ID number
2. RFID (electronic) eartags — scannable radio frequency identification tags approved by APHIS
3. Electronic implants (microchips) — injectable transponders with restrictions on use; there are restrictions on the use of implantable devices, as outlined in the National Scrapie Eradication Program Standards.
4. 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.

To obtain official tags, call 1-866-USDA-TAG (866-873-2824). 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. Regular program tags may be purchased by any producer who has a flock or premises ID.

All official National Scrapie Eradication Program identification tags have the U.S. shield. Official tags may not be sold or given to another person. If you no longer need the tags, they should be destroyed or returned to the APHIS Veterinary Services District Field Office for your state.

Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Nevada

Before you can obtain official tags and participate in the NSEP, your flock must be registered and assigned an official premises identification number. This number links your animals to your operation and is the foundation of the traceability system. You can register your flock and obtain a premises ID by contacting the Nevada Department of Agriculture or by calling the USDA-TAG hotline.

Once your flock is registered, you are required to maintain ongoing records. Producers must also keep herd records, showing what new animals were added and what animals left the herd or flock. 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. These records must be maintained for a minimum of five years.

Your recordkeeping system should capture the following information for every transaction:

• The official ID number of each animal purchased or sold
• The name, address, and premises ID of the seller (for purchases)
• The name, address, and premises ID of the buyer (for sales)
• The date of each transaction
• The age, sex, and breed of each animal involved
• Any flock classification information (e.g., source flock, exposed flock status) associated with the animals

Nevada’s participation in the NSEP as a consistent state means your records may be subject to review by both state and federal animal health officials. 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. Make sure your records align with these updated federal standards as well as Nevada’s state requirements.

Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Nevada

Moving sheep or goats in Nevada — whether across state lines or within the state — triggers specific regulatory requirements. Nevada’s NAC Chapter 571 establishes entry requirements for animals coming into the state that go beyond the federal baseline, and you need to understand both sets of rules depending on the direction of movement.

Bringing Sheep into Nevada

When you import sheep into Nevada, each animal must be accompanied by documentation that includes all of the following, as required under NAC 571: a statement by the issuing veterinarian that the sheep is not exhibiting clinical signs associated with scrapie at the time of examination; a statement by the owner verifying that the sheep is not a scrapie-positive animal, suspect animal, high-risk animal or exposed animal and that the sheep did not originate from an infected flock, source flock, exposed flock or noncompliant flock; for a breeding animal, the flock of birth of the sheep; and a unique identifying number for the sheep that is consistent with official scrapie identification.

Additionally, all breeding rams that are 6 months of age or older are tested for Brucella ovis on the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test and must react negatively to that test within 30 days before entry into the state. This requirement applies on top of the scrapie documentation and is enforced at the point of entry.

Bringing Goats into Nevada

The entry requirements for goats mirror those for sheep in most respects. A person shall not ship, transport or otherwise move goats into Nevada unless each goat is accompanied by a statement by the issuing veterinarian that the goat is not exhibiting clinical signs associated with scrapie at the time of examination; a statement signed by the owner certifying that the goat is not a scrapie-positive animal, suspect animal, high-risk animal or exposed animal and that the goat did not originate from an infected flock, source flock, exposed flock or noncompliant flock; and a unique identifying number for the goat that is consistent with official scrapie identification.

In addition to the general requirements, a goat imported into Nevada for dairy or breeding purposes must have reacted negatively to tests for tuberculosis and brucellosis within the 30 days before the date of entry.

Interstate Movement Out of Nevada

When you move sheep or goats out of Nevada to another state, federal rules under 9 CFR Part 79 govern the transaction. 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. Each animal must carry official ID, and the ICVI must confirm the animal’s scrapie status and flock of origin. Contact an accredited veterinarian in Nevada to complete this documentation before any out-of-state shipment. You may also want to review exotic pets legal in Nevada for additional context on how Nevada regulates animal ownership and movement more broadly.

Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Nevada

Surveillance is what drives the final push toward scrapie eradication. Your participation in reporting and testing is not just a regulatory obligation — it is the mechanism by which the last remaining cases of scrapie in the U.S. are found and eliminated.

Reporting Suspect Animals

If you have an adult sheep or goat that is exhibiting signs of scrapie such as incoordination, severe continuous rubbing or other neurologic signs, or an adult animal dies or is euthanized, or is being culled (even if you know the cause of death), contact your local State or USDA APHIS Veterinary Services veterinarian or call 866-536-7593 right away. There is no charge for the collection or testing of the samples for scrapie.

Nevada’s NAC Chapter 571 reinforces this obligation at the state level. The owner of an animal shall submit tissue from the animal to an approved laboratory and, if the animal is a scrapie-positive animal or suspect animal, dispose of the carcass of the animal in accordance with NRS 571.200. Failure to report a suspect animal is a violation of both state and federal law.

Testing Procedures

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. Accredited veterinarians can either remove and submit whole heads or collect and submit specified tissues.

Positive test results will be confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) or an NVSL-approved laboratory. Once a positive is confirmed, the state and federal response process begins immediately.

Quarantine and Flock Management After a Positive

If scrapie is confirmed in your Nevada flock, a flock plan will be developed in cooperation with state and federal animal health officials. APHIS provides the following assistance to owners of exposed and infected flocks or herds that participate in cleanup plans: indemnity for high-risk, suspect, and scrapie-positive sheep and exposed goats that owners agree to destroy; and genetic testing of sheep for scrapie susceptibility.

To eliminate the disease from an infected flock or herd, genetically susceptible exposed animals and animals showing clinical signs are euthanized and the premises is cleaned and disinfected. Prions are difficult to decontaminate as they have been shown to tightly bind to surfaces without losing infectivity. They are resistant to most disinfectants including alcohol and formalin.

From a genetics standpoint, approximately 30 percent of U.S. sheep are genetically susceptible to scrapie. Some animals have been bred to be genetically resistant to the disease. Because scrapie persists in the environment for years, owners of previously infected flocks should restock with rams that are resistant and ewes of resistant or less susceptible genotypes. All goat breeds are susceptible to scrapie.

For more information on other disease-related regulations that may affect your Nevada livestock operation, see tick season in Nevada, as ticks are a known vector for multiple livestock diseases in the region.

Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Nevada

While most of the requirements discussed above are mandatory, the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) is a voluntary program that offers significant benefits to Nevada producers who choose to participate. The SFCP 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.

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). Each status level reflects a different degree of monitoring, documentation, and time commitment, and each unlocks different market access benefits.

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.

The SFCP identifies scrapie-free flocks by monitoring them over a 5 to 7 year period. This monitoring period is the core of the certification process — your flock must demonstrate freedom from scrapie over time, not just at a single point in inspection. During this period, you must maintain strict sourcing standards, ensuring that any new animals added to your flock come from flocks of equal or higher SFCP status.

To enroll your Nevada flock in the SFCP, contact the APHIS Veterinary Services office for Nevada or reach out to the Nevada Department of Agriculture’s State Veterinarian’s office. SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program. These specially marked tags signal to buyers and regulators alike that your flock is enrolled in the certification program.

For Nevada producers interested in the broader regulatory landscape for livestock and wildlife in the state, resources on roadkill laws in Nevada and dove hunting season in Nevada provide additional context on how the state manages its animal populations under law. Producers who also keep dogs on working ranches may find dog allergies in spring in Nevada and rooster crowing laws in Nevada useful references for managing a multi-species rural property in compliance with state regulations.

The SFCP is ultimately an investment in the long-term health and commercial viability of your operation. Given that without producer participation, 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, every Nevada producer who enrolls in the SFCP contributes directly to an outcome that benefits the entire industry. Whether you manage a small hobby flock or a large commercial sheep operation, understanding and participating in Nevada’s scrapie eradication framework protects your animals, your neighbors’ flocks, and the long-term health of Nevada’s agricultural sector.