Oklahoma Scrapie Eradication Program: Rules Every Sheep and Goat Producer Must Know

If you raise sheep or goats in Oklahoma, the Scrapie Eradication Program directly affects how you identify, move, and manage your animals. Scrapie is a fatal neurological disease with no cure, and federal and state regulations exist specifically to stop it from spreading through the nation’s flocks and herds.

Understanding what is required of you — from official ear tags to flock registration, movement paperwork, and voluntary certification — helps you stay compliant and avoid costly violations. This guide walks you through every key component of Oklahoma’s role in the National Scrapie Eradication Program so you know exactly what steps to take.

What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Oklahoma

Scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of sheep and goats, similar to other TSEs such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or “mad cow disease” of cattle, chronic wasting disease (CWD) of deer and elk, and a number of diseases that affect humans. Understanding what makes this disease so dangerous is the first step toward appreciating why Oklahoma enforces strict regulations around it.

These diseases occur because of a buildup of an abnormal cellular protein in the brain, known as a prion. Susceptibility to these diseases is genetically controlled in some species, including sheep and goats. In all species affected, the central nervous system including the brain starts to degenerate — there is no known cure for TSEs, and they are always fatal.

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.

TSEs are protein-misfolding diseases that lead to brain damage and are always fatal. The cause of scrapie is not completely understood, but evidence indicates that an infectious protein referred to as a prion is responsible for the disease. These infectious prions cause damage to the normal prion proteins found in the brain. The misfolding of the proteins leads to brain damage and the presentation of clinical signs of the disease. Prions are very resistant to destruction, so once in the environment, they are difficult to remove.

Common clinical signs you may observe include incoordination or poor muscle control (ataxia), weakness, stumbling, falling down, or difficulty rising. Because these signs can also mimic other conditions such as ovine progressive pneumonia, listeriosis, and rabies, official laboratory testing is the only way to confirm a scrapie diagnosis.

The economic consequences extend beyond individual farms. 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. Eradicating the disease in Oklahoma contributes directly to restoring those export markets for all producers.

Oklahoma’s Role in the National Scrapie Eradication Program

In 2001, the USDA announced an accelerated program to eradicate scrapie in the nation’s sheep and goat herds. This program is succeeding, but to meet the goal of substantially eradicating the disease, the cooperation of sheep and goat producers everywhere is needed. The National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP) coordinated by the USDA is a joint effort that includes participation by state governments, industry, and particularly producers.

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). Oklahoma participates in both components, with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF) serving as the state-level enforcement and coordination partner alongside USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

The National Scrapie Eradication Program has reduced the prevalence of scrapie by about 85% in the U.S. Part of the program includes genetic testing to identify high-risk animals and breeding programs that seek to create scrapie-resistant sheep. Since 2002, the prevalence of scrapie has decreased significantly through existing eradication efforts. This is largely due to effective slaughter surveillance of geographically distributed sampling based on annual population estimates.

In 2000, the USDA, as part of the Lamb 201 industry initiative, made a commitment to eradicate scrapie from the United States based on a number of different factors: concerns raised by BSE in cattle, the emergence of variant CJD in humans, and to address trade disparities with Australia and New Zealand.

The revised 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. Oklahoma complied with this requirement, making intrastate ID rules a cornerstone of its program. You can find additional information on Oklahoma’s animal regulation framework and other state-level livestock rules through official ODAFF channels.

Official Animal Identification Requirements in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, sheep and goats of any age must be officially identified before being moved for sale, exhibition, slaughter, or change of ownership. If unsure whether a particular sheep or goat needs to be identified, tag it. This straightforward rule applies regardless of whether the movement is across town or across state lines.

All sheep and goats of any age must be identified before being moved for sale or show. An exception to this rule applies to wethers under 18 months old being moved for sale or slaughter. For exhibition, wethers under 18 months need some identification, though official tagging is not required.

Types of Approved Official Identification

Eartags and devices approved by APHIS are used for the official identification of sheep and goats in interstate commerce. Oklahoma producers have several options when it comes to the type of official ID device they use:

• Official plastic flock ID eartags — the most common form, bearing the producer’s APHIS-assigned flock ID followed by an individual animal number
• Official metal serial eartags — numbered with the state postal abbreviation, two letters, and four numbers
• Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags — including 840 RFID tags, which require a national premises ID (NPIN) in addition to a flock ID
• Implantable electronic devices (microchips) — subject to additional restrictions outlined in the NSEP Standards
• 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.

How to Obtain Official Tags in Oklahoma

Official ear tags and applicator pliers are available free of charge from USDA Veterinary Services. 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. Producers will need to purchase the compatible applicator from the tag manufacturer.

To get your flock ID and request tags in Oklahoma, use the following contacts:

• Call (405) 254-1797 to obtain a flock ID for ordering plastic tags
• Call (405) 522-6141 for NPIN or LID numbers required for RFID tags or implants
• Call the national USDA tag line at 1-866-USDA-TAG (866-873-2824) to request tags or a premises ID

Producers wanting official plastic tags must order tags directly from approved tag manufacturers and must provide their flock ID when ordering. Approved manufacturers include Premier (800-282-6631), Shearwell (800-778-6014), and Allflex (833-727-2743). If ordering RFID tags or implants, producers must also have an NPIN or LID, obtainable by calling the state office at (405) 522-6141.

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.

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. Oklahoma producers interested in the full scope of animal regulations in the state can also review goat ownership laws in Oklahoma for additional context on state-level livestock rules.

Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Oklahoma

Before you can legally tag your animals with official scrapie ID, you must first register your flock or premises with USDA APHIS. This registration assigns your operation a unique flock or premises ID number, which is the foundation of the entire traceability system.

Flock ID tag numbers consist of 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. A national premises ID is also required to purchase official 840 RFID tags or implantable devices.

What Records You Must Keep

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.

Under the NSEP, producers who move sheep or goats in commerce are required to maintain records that support traceability. Key recordkeeping obligations include:

• Records of all official ID tags applied to animals, including tag numbers and the animals they correspond to
• Documentation of all movements off your premises, including destination and purpose (sale, exhibition, slaughter, change of ownership)
• Records of animals acquired from other producers, including their official ID numbers and source premises
• Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs) for interstate shipments

By obtaining identification tags for livestock, owners are obligated to maintain accurate records. Keeping thorough documentation of issued tags is essential for compliance with regulations in Oklahoma. It is recommended that records be retained for a specific duration, aiding in traceability and compliance during audits or health assessments.

Additional recordkeeping requirements include the retrieval of official identification distribution records and certificates of veterinary inspection (CVI) within 48 hours of a request made by federal or state animal health officials. Make sure your records are organized and readily accessible at all times.

Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Oklahoma

Movement rules for sheep and goats in Oklahoma operate on two levels: intrastate (within Oklahoma) and interstate (crossing state lines). Both carry identification and documentation requirements that you must meet before loading animals.

Intrastate Movement Within Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, sheep and goats of any age must be officially identified before being moved for sale, exhibition, slaughter, or change of ownership. This applies to all intrastate movements involving a change of ownership or transfer to a market, show, or slaughter facility.

Goats moving to a livestock market may have identification applied by the market before sale. The state veterinarian may grant written exceptions in certain cases. If you believe your situation qualifies for an exception, contact ODAFF’s Animal Industry Division before moving animals.

Interstate Movement Out of or Into Oklahoma

When animals move interstate, unless otherwise exempt, they must be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI) or other movement document agreed upon by both the sending and receiving states.

On March 25, 2019, APHIS updated its scrapie regulations and program standards, which included updating identification requirements for goats and certain recordkeeping requirements for sheep and goats. These rules apply to sheep or goats that are moving or have moved in interstate commerce, that have resided on premises where interstate commerce is conducted, or that are owned by people who engage in interstate commerce. This includes animals moved through markets or other sites where interstate commerce occurs even if the particular animal has not left the state.

All goats imported into Oklahoma must be identified with a USDA-approved official identification device. If you are purchasing animals from out of state, verify that they carry valid official ID before they arrive on your premises. Oklahoma’s livestock environment is diverse — producers raising sheep and goats share the state with a wide range of wildlife, including snakes in Oklahoma and other species that interact with agricultural land.

Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Oklahoma

Identifying and reporting suspect animals quickly is one of the most important obligations you have under the NSEP. Because scrapie can spread silently before clinical signs appear, the program depends on producers and veterinarians acting promptly when something looks wrong.

How to Report a Suspect Animal

If you observe an animal showing signs consistent with scrapie — including progressive incoordination, weight loss despite normal appetite, wool loss, or behavioral changes — you must report it immediately. Reporting suspect animals can be done by contacting a state veterinarian at (405) 522-8396, a federal veterinarian at (405) 751-1701), or an accredited veterinarian.

Contact your veterinarian, who will report to the USDA’s Veterinary Services. Your vet can obtain tissue samples from living or dead sheep or goats at no cost to you if reported and processed through the USDA.

Testing Procedures

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. 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.

Genotyping is a DNA test that identifies the genes for susceptibility or resistance. This tool measures vulnerability, not infection. Blood is the sample most generally used by approved laboratories. However, the USDA will only recognize tests when the blood sample was collected by an accredited veterinarian.

Quarantine and Affected Flock Management

APHIS’s 2019 final rule established a more flexible approach to disease investigations and affected flock management. When a flock tests positive or is identified as a source or exposed flock, APHIS and ODAFF work together to implement a flock plan. This typically involves movement restrictions, additional testing, and in confirmed cases, depopulation with indemnity payments.

There are multiple genes that influence susceptibility to scrapie. Codon 171 is the gene most generally focused on in the U.S. At this gene, QQ animals are highly susceptible to scrapie infection if exposed; QR animals are rarely susceptible; and RR animals are resistant. Incorporating genotyping into your breeding program can reduce your flock’s long-term risk and may influence the terms of any flock plan if a positive case is identified.

Oklahoma’s agricultural landscape supports a range of livestock operations, and producers managing sheep and goats often share land with native wildlife such as hawks in Oklahoma and other predators. Biosecurity practices that protect against disease also help reduce wildlife-related livestock stress.

Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Oklahoma

Beyond the mandatory requirements of the NSEP, Oklahoma producers can voluntarily enroll in the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) to demonstrate a higher level of disease management and gain market advantages.

The Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) is designed to monitor flocks for scrapie and to certify flocks that have met all requirements of the Export category of the program as scrapie-free. 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

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.

Export Category: The objective of this 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.

Export Certified animals from these flocks meet the World Organization for Animal Health’s standards to be recognized as free of disease. In order to achieve Export Certified status, a flock must gain a minimum of seven years in status and sample 30 mature animals. This sampling minimum may be achieved through slaughter, necropsy, and live animal testing.

Select Category: Participants in the Select category agree to sample at least one mature animal every one to three years, depending on flock size. APHIS monitors compliance with the sampling requirement through a national sampling database and publishes the date on which the last animal was sampled on its public website. Select status is maintained indefinitely, as long as the flock continues to meet the requirements.

How to Apply

To participate in the SFCP program in either category, you must complete the SFCP application form (VS Form 5-22). The State Scrapie Flock Certification Board (or its representative) reviews applications and approves admissions to the program. Sheep or goat producers applying for the Select category are only required to submit the application for enrollment, VS Form 5-22. Sheep and goat producers applying for the Export category are required to submit a complete application package.

Key Obligations for SFCP Participants

• Tissues from scrapie suspect animals, animals suspected of other neurologic and chronic debilitating illnesses, and any other animal required by the program standards must be submitted to an official laboratory in accordance with the SFCP standards.
• Tissues must be collected from all mature animals found dead in a timely manner for testing for scrapie.
• Participants must notify the State Scrapie Certification Board and/or the Veterinary Services Area Office within 30 days of any action resulting in a change in status or status date, such as the acquisition of and/or commingling with nonparticipating animals or embryos, animals or embryos with a lower status or status date, or use of sheep or goat milk or colostrum or products derived therefrom.
• Participants must have the necessary facilities and personnel available to assist in inspecting the identification of each animal and the records, and must schedule a flock inspection every 11 to 13 months.

To maintain scrapie-free status, flock owners may not obtain ewes or does from nonparticipating flocks or from flocks with lower status. Flock owners who do not comply with this requirement will have their flock’s status date adjusted to reflect the addition of the lowest category animal.

The SFCP is a voluntary program for producers who are committed to monitoring their flocks for clinical scrapie signs and reporting any suspect animals for testing. Participants in this program benefit by decreasing the risk of introducing classical scrapie into their flocks.

For more information on the SFCP, contact the USDA APHIS Scrapie Program or reach out to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry Animal Industry Division. Additional guidance on Oklahoma animal regulations — from livestock health rules to wildlife identification — is available through resources like venomous animals in Oklahoma and other state-specific guides on the Animal of Things website.

Key Takeaways for Oklahoma Sheep and Goat Producers

The Scrapie Eradication Program places clear, enforceable obligations on every producer who raises sheep or goats in Oklahoma. Whether you are a small hobby farm or a large commercial operation, the rules apply to you the moment you move, sell, or transfer ownership of an animal.

Your core responsibilities under Oklahoma’s program include:

1. Obtain a USDA flock or premises ID before tagging or moving animals
2. Apply official ID to all sheep and goats of any age before sale, exhibition, slaughter, or change of ownership
3. Maintain accurate records of all tags applied, movements made, and animals acquired
4. Obtain a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for all interstate shipments
5. Report any animal showing signs consistent with scrapie to state (405-522-8396) or federal (405-751-1701) veterinary officials immediately
6. Consider enrolling in the SFCP to reduce disease risk and improve marketability

Staying current with USDA APHIS updates is equally important, as program standards and identification requirements are reviewed and revised periodically. Bookmark the APHIS National Scrapie Eradication Program page and maintain a relationship with your accredited veterinarian and local ODAFF office to ensure you never miss a regulatory change that affects your operation.