Oregon Scrapie Eradication Program: Rules Every Sheep and Goat Producer Must Know
June 26, 2026
Scrapie is one of the most serious diseases facing sheep and goat producers in the United States, and Oregon producers play a direct role in the national effort to eliminate it. If you own even a small flock, the regulations governing identification, movement, recordkeeping, and reporting apply to you.
Understanding Oregon’s scrapie rules is not just about staying compliant — it protects your flock, your neighbors’ flocks, and the long-term economic health of the state’s sheep and goat industry. This guide walks you through every major requirement under the National Scrapie Eradication Program as it applies to Oregon producers.
What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Oregon
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative 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 Oregon, the disease is treated as a serious regulatory concern because of both its impact on animal welfare and on 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. That long incubation period is one of the primary reasons official identification and traceability requirements exist — by the time an animal shows symptoms, it may have already spread the disease agent to others in the flock.
Scrapie is a neurodegenerative disease that can infect sheep and goats. It falls under the classification of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, meaning it impacts the central nervous system of the animal and can spread to sheep and goats not previously infected. There is a 100% mortality rate for infected animals. There are no cures or supportive therapies.
The presence of classical scrapie in the U.S. sheep and goat population affects industry economically through production losses, lost exports, and increased production and disposal costs. Public health concerns related to the transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to humans have resulted in efforts to eradicate all TSEs in food-producing animals.
There are two types of scrapie: classical and nonclassical. Nonclassical scrapie is also referred to as atypical, Nor98, or Nor98-like scrapie. Nonclassical scrapie 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.
Oregon’s Role in the National Scrapie Eradication Program
Surveillance for scrapie in the United States is conducted through the National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP), a cooperative State-Federal-industry program. Oregon participates as a full partner in this effort, with the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) enforcing both state and federal standards at the producer level.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) Animal Health Program, under the direction of the Oregon State Veterinarian, is responsible for protecting the health of Oregon livestock. This responsibility is carried out through four primary statutory responsibilities — Livestock Disease Control and Response, Animal Disease Traceability (ADT), Animal Emergency Planning and Response, and providing veterinary oversight to the State Meat Inspection Program.
The USDA Scrapie Control and Flock Certification Program Standards found at 9 CFR Parts 54 (Control of Scrapie) and 79 (Scrapie in Sheep and Goats) are adopted by reference as the basic standards for the scrapie control and eradication program in Oregon. This means that federal requirements set the floor, and Oregon’s own administrative rules build on top of them.
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). Oregon producers may participate in both, and doing so can significantly improve the marketability of your animals.
The National Scrapie Eradication Program, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has reduced the prevalence of scrapie in adult sheep sampled at slaughter by more than 99%. However, the cooperation of sheep and goat producers is needed to find and eliminate the last few cases in the United States.
Official Animal Identification Requirements in Oregon
A cornerstone of the National Scrapie Eradication Program is the official identification of certain sheep and goats in order to provide traceability back to the flock of birth. Because most sheep or goats that become infected with scrapie are infected as young lambs or kids, accurate traceability of infected animals is critical to finding any other animals that may have also been exposed to the disease.
Oregon’s identification rules are among the more comprehensive in the country. All sexually intact sheep and goats of any age leaving the flock of origin which are not in slaughter channels, and all sheep over 18 months of age in slaughter channels, must have official identification in accordance with 9 CFR Part 79 prior to leaving the farm of origin for intrastate or interstate movement for any purpose. All sheep and goats for exhibition must bear official individual identification in accordance with 9 CFR Part 79.
More specifically, there are three categories of sheep and goats required to be officially identified when leaving the flock or herd of origin in Oregon: any sheep or goat (regardless of age or sex) intended for exhibition; any sexually intact sheep or goat (regardless of age) that is not confined solely to slaughter channels; and any sheep or goat (regardless of sex) in slaughter channels that is over 18 months of age.
There are some situations where official individual ID is not required. Intact lambs under 18 months of age going to slaughter do not need official ear tags if they are moved with an Owner Hauler Statement and Group Identification Number. Breeding ewes or rams do not need an official ID if they stay on the farm or ranch.
Approved Identification Methods
Official individual identification means the unique identification of individual animals with a device determined to be appropriate by the Department and the USDA. Such identification may include, but is not limited to, official identification tags, tattoos, and electronic devices.
- Official eartags — plastic or metal tags bearing the producer’s flock ID number followed by an individual animal number
- Electronic identification (EID) — RFID eartags or implantable microchips; there are restrictions on the use of implantable devices, which are outlined in the National Scrapie Eradication Program 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.
Listed premises will also be issued a premises ID number (if not already issued), and will be linked to the scrapie flock number for use with EID ear tags or microchips.
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.
Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Oregon
Generally, each sheep or goat producer in Oregon must register their flock and obtain a scrapie flock number. This requirement applies regardless of flock size — even if you only have two animals, you are expected to be registered.
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. Flock registration is a key tool for preventing those losses from spreading.
How to Register Your Flock
In Oregon, producers may request a scrapie flock number by completing the Oregon Scrapie Flock Registration Application and returning the completed application to ODA. You can also request a flock ID number through USDA by calling 1-866-USDA-TAG.
Each sheep or goat producer in Oregon must register their flock and obtain a scrapie flock number. Unlike premises ID numbers which are specific to a location, a scrapie flock number will stay with a producer as long as they remain within the State of Oregon, even if they move to a new location. This is an important distinction if you ever relocate your operation.
To request a premises ID number in Oregon, contact the Oregon Department of Agriculture at 503-986-4680 or animalhealth@oda.oregon.gov. You can also visit the ODA Scrapie Flock Registration page for the application form.
Recordkeeping Requirements
Producers are required to follow federal and state regulations for officially identifying their sheep and goats. Producers must also keep herd records, showing what new animals were added and what animals left the herd/flock.
Certain information must be retained for 5 years after the animal is sold or disposed of. Your records should document each animal’s official ID number, the date it entered or left your flock, and the source or destination of the animal.
Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Oregon
Whether you are moving animals within Oregon or across state lines, specific rules govern when official identification and documentation are required. Oregon’s rules apply to both intrastate and interstate movements, and in some cases Oregon’s requirements are stricter than the federal baseline.
Importing Sheep and Goats Into Oregon
In addition to the requirements of OAR 603-011-0255 (Importation of Animals Into Oregon; General Provisions), a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection shall be required certifying the animals being imported are free from clinical signs of disease and have no known exposure to scrapie.
All sheep and goats being imported into Oregon shall be individually identified as specified by OAR 603-011-0388 (Identification of Sheep and Goats). Exceptions to the requirement for a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or for any tests required due to disease conditions in state of origin may be made under agreements between the Oregon State Veterinarian and Chief Animal Health Official of reciprocating states.
Intrastate Movement Exemptions
Not every movement within Oregon requires official individual identification. The following situations may qualify for exemptions:
- Sheep or goats moved for grazing or similar management reasons without a change of ownership when the animals are moved from a premises owned or leased by the owner to another premises owned or leased by the owner. The premises must be recorded in the National Scrapie Database as additional flock premises and commingling must not occur with unidentified animals born in another flock or any animal not part of the flock.
- Castrated sheep or goats under 18 months of age.
- Sheep or goats moving within a state that have only resided on premises and in flocks in the same state, where the animals and premises are owned by persons who do not engage in the interstate commerce of sheep or goats, and where the sheep or goats are of a class exempted from official ID by the state while in intrastate commerce.
Interstate Movement Requirements
In September 2001, the scrapie regulations were revised to require the official identification of sheep and goats not in slaughter channels (except low-risk commercial goats) and any sheep over 18 months of age in interstate commerce with some exceptions. In addition, the revision 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.
If you are moving sheep or goats out of Oregon, ensure all applicable animals carry valid official identification before leaving your property. The receiving state may have its own additional requirements, so always verify the destination state’s rules before transport. You can also review other Oregon animal regulation resources for additional context on how Oregon manages livestock and animal welfare law.
Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Oregon
Identifying and reporting suspected scrapie cases quickly is critical to preventing the disease from spreading. Oregon producers have specific obligations when an animal shows clinical signs or dies on the farm.
Recognizing Clinical Signs
Scrapie progresses slowly, and early signs can be subtle. Most animals are infected as young lambs or kids, but adult animals can get it too. Apparently healthy animals infected with the disease agent can spread it. Common clinical signs include incoordination, weight loss despite a normal appetite, excessive rubbing or scratching, and other neurological symptoms.
Reporting Obligations
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), please contact your local State or USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services veterinarian or call 866-536-7593 right away.
To prove the U.S. is scrapie free, it is important to continue testing samples from sheep and goats over 18 months of age found dead or euthanized on your farm. Accredited veterinarians or regulatory personnel can collect samples for on-farm surveillance. In Oregon, you can contact the Oregon-USDA Scrapie Program Coordinator for assistance with sample collection.
Testing Requirements
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.
Testing is conducted on brain or lymphoid tissue, which means live-animal testing has limitations. In order to declare the U.S. “scrapie free,” we must be able to prove to the world that testing has been conducted in all sheep and goat populations. This is why submission of samples from sheep and goats over 18 months of age found dead or euthanized on your farm is extremely important.
Quarantine Procedures
Under Oregon administrative rules, a quarantine means a movement restriction imposed by the Department under authority of ORS Chapters 561 and 596. If your flock is designated as an infected or source flock, movement restrictions will be placed on your animals until the situation is resolved under an approved flock management plan.
A flock management plan means a written scrapie flock management agreement which is signed by the flock owner and a Department or APHIS representative. An exposed flock means a flock which has received female animals from an infected or source flock or that contains or contained a suspect female animal. Both infected and exposed flocks are subject to heightened oversight and movement restrictions.
For additional context on how Oregon manages animal health and welfare regulations across different species, you may also find resources like Oregon’s exotic animal ownership rules and venomous animals in Oregon useful for understanding the broader regulatory landscape.
Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Oregon
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.
Joining the SFCP can give your operation a competitive advantage, particularly if you sell breeding stock or export animals. Buyers and traders increasingly look for SFCP status as an assurance of disease-free management.
SFCP 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).
| Category | Status | Primary Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Export | Export Monitored | Entry-level certification working toward Export Certified status |
| Export | Export Certified | Full certification for international export markets |
| Select | Select Monitored | Domestic marketing and reduced movement restrictions |
Requirements for SFCP Participation
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.
Participation in the SFCP also changes your tagging options. SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program. These tags serve as a visible signal to buyers and inspectors that your flock is enrolled in the voluntary certification program.
APHIS believes the National Scrapie Eradication Program will result in a more effective disease eradication program, with a more flexible approach to disease investigations and affected flock management, and more consistent animal identification and recordkeeping requirements between sheep and goats. The SFCP is one of the most direct ways you can contribute to that goal while also strengthening your operation’s reputation.
Why SFCP Participation Matters for Oregon Producers
Oregon’s sheep and goat producers operate in a competitive market where disease-free status directly affects the prices you can command for breeding stock. Participation in the SFCP signals to domestic and international buyers that your management practices meet a verified standard.
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. Every Oregon producer who participates in the SFCP moves the entire industry closer to the point where those export restrictions can be lifted. The Oregon Sheep Growers Association also provides resources and updates on scrapie program requirements for state producers.
For more on Oregon’s animal life and regulatory environment, explore related resources including types of snakes in Oregon, hawks in Oregon, and owls in Oregon — all part of understanding the broader ecosystem in which Oregon livestock producers operate.
Staying Compliant With Oregon’s Scrapie Program
Compliance with Oregon’s scrapie program is not a one-time task — it is an ongoing responsibility that touches every part of your sheep or goat operation. From the moment an animal is born to the day it leaves your property, identification, recordkeeping, and movement rules apply.
Here is a quick summary of your core obligations as an Oregon sheep or goat producer:
- Register your flock with ODA and obtain a scrapie flock number
- Apply official identification to all animals that require it before they leave your property
- Maintain records of all animal movements, purchases, and disposals for at least 5 years
- Obtain a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for any animals you import into Oregon
- Report any animal showing signs of scrapie to ODA or USDA APHIS immediately
- Submit samples from animals over 18 months of age that die or are euthanized on your farm
- Consider enrolling in the SFCP to improve flock marketability and contribute to national eradication goals
Regulations can change, and it is your responsibility as a producer to stay current. Always verify the latest requirements with the Oregon Department of Agriculture or the USDA APHIS National Scrapie Eradication Program before making decisions about animal movement or sales.