Scrapie Eradication Program in Kansas: What Sheep and Goat Producers Need to Know
June 25, 2026
Scrapie is one of the most persistent livestock diseases in the United States, and Kansas producers raising sheep and goats are directly affected by the federal and state rules designed to wipe it out. If you own even a small flock, you have legal obligations under the National Scrapie Eradication Program — from tagging individual animals to maintaining movement records and submitting samples when animals die.
This guide walks you through every layer of Kansas’s scrapie compliance requirements: what the disease is, how the state fits into the national framework, and exactly what you must do to stay in good standing with both the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) and USDA APHIS.
What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in Kansas
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system of sheep and goats, classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). The TSE family also includes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle and chronic wasting disease in deer — a connection that has driven decades of regulatory attention at the federal level.
Scrapie is difficult to detect. It can take two to five years for an animal to show signs of disease, and current diagnostic tests require brain or lymphoid tissue. Animals typically live one to six months after they begin to show signs. That long, silent incubation window is precisely what makes the disease so dangerous to a herd — and so difficult to eradicate.
The disease is spread from ewes to their offspring and through direct contact with infected animals. Clinical signs, which can occur from two to five years after exposure, include temperament changes, scratching, rubbing, loss of coordination, weakness, weight loss, biting of feet and limbs, hopping like a rabbit, and high stepping of the forelegs.
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. For Kansas producers, that economic reality is a direct reason why compliance with the eradication program matters — not just legally, but commercially.
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 also resulted in efforts to eradicate all TSEs in food-producing animals.
Kansas’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. Kansas participates as a full partner in this framework, with the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health serving as the state-level enforcement and coordination body.
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 to Kansas producers, and understanding which one governs your flock is the first step toward compliance.
The current list of Consistent States — those conducting an active state scrapie control program that meets federal requirements — includes all 50 states, including Kansas. Being a Consistent State means Kansas must enforce official identification and recordkeeping requirements as a condition of allowing its producers to move animals interstate with minimal restrictions.
The National Scrapie Eradication Program, coordinated by USDA APHIS, has reduced the prevalence of scrapie in adult sheep sampled at slaughter by over 99 percent. However, it is likely there are still farms with cases of scrapie, and one of the most difficult aspects of an eradication program is finding the last few cases of the disease. Kansas producers play a critical role in closing that gap.
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 updates are the current governing framework for Kansas compliance. You can reach the KDA Division of Animal Health at 785-564-6601 for state-specific guidance, or visit the KDA Division of Animal Health for official resources.
Official Animal Identification Requirements in Kansas
All sheep and goats must have official ID when moving off their premises of origin. This requirement applies whether the animal is crossing state lines or simply changing ownership within Kansas. Some states have identification requirements that are stricter than federal requirements, so federal exceptions do not apply in all states. For information on each state’s ID and movement requirements, contact the State Veterinarian’s office.
Kansas follows federal baseline requirements under 9 CFR Part 79 while also enforcing state-level rules through the Kansas Administrative Regulations (K.A.R.). K.A.R. 9-10-57 governs requirements for sheep and goats sold at a public livestock market or an occasional livestock sale. The regulation requires that sheep and goats offered for sale be identified with official identification and sets forth record-keeping requirements.
Approved forms of official identification for sheep and goats in Kansas include:
- Official USDA plastic eartags — visual flock ID tags bearing the U.S. shield and a unique flock/animal number
- Official metal serial tags — metal tags with the state postal abbreviation and a unique serial number
- Radio-frequency identification (RFID) eartags — electronic tags that can be scanned for rapid traceability
- Implantable electronic devices (microchips) — subject to restrictions outlined in the NSEP Program Standards
- Registry tattoos — allowed under 9 CFR Part 79.2 and the NSEP Standards for movement in interstate commerce, with some exceptions
Flock ID tag numbers are the producer’s flock ID assigned by APHIS or the State, followed by an individual animal number. All official National Scrapie Eradication Program identification tags carry the U.S. shield, and official tags may not be sold or given to another person.
Official identification must be individually listed on the accompanying Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). The identification method must be approved by the animal health commissioner — this includes an official USDA ear tag or a breed registration tattoo as long as a copy of registration papers accompanies the CVI to the state office.
To request free tags or obtain a flock ID, call 1-866-USDA-Tag (866-873-2824). The telephone tree will gather information to route you to the correct APHIS Veterinary Services or State office to answer your questions about sheep and goat identification. You can also review approved tag manufacturers at the USDA APHIS scrapie tag resource page.
Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in Kansas
Before you can legally tag or move sheep and goats in Kansas, you need an official flock or premises identification 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. You can obtain both through the same 1-866-USDA-Tag call line.
The NSEP 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. In practice, this means that most Kansas producers who sell through livestock markets fall under federal recordkeeping obligations.
Recordkeeping requirements under 9 CFR Part 79 and the updated 2019 final rule include:
- Animal inventory records — documenting each animal’s official ID number, species, breed, sex, and approximate age
- Acquisition records — recording the seller’s premises identification number, the date of purchase, and the official ID of each animal acquired
- Disposition records — recording where each animal went, including the buyer’s premises ID or the slaughter facility
- Movement documents — retaining copies of CVIs, brand inspection certificates, or other movement paperwork
- Genotype test records — if genetic susceptibility testing is used, results must be recorded and linked to individual animal ID
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. This is not just a regulatory formality — it is the foundation for any disease trace-back investigation.
APHIS believes the 2019 Final Rule results 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. Many of the specific requirements regarding official eartags, official ID methods such as tattoos and implantable electronic ID, and how indemnity is calculated were moved to the Scrapie Program Standards, Volume 1. You should keep a current copy of those standards on file. The full program standards document is available through the USDA APHIS scrapie program page.
Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in Kansas
Movement rules for Kansas sheep and goats operate on two levels: federal requirements that govern interstate movement and Kansas-specific requirements that apply within state borders. Both sets of rules must be satisfied before you move animals.
Importing Sheep and Goats Into Kansas
Sheep and goats imported into Kansas from another state must be accompanied by a completed Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI, health certificate) signed by an accredited veterinarian. The CVI must have been issued within 30 days prior to the animal’s movement into Kansas.
Official identification must be on each animal and listed individually on the CVI. Official identification must be individually listed on the accompanying CVI, and the identification method must be approved by the animal health commissioner — an official USDA ear tag or a breed registration tattoo with a copy of registration papers accompanying the CVI to the state office.
Interstate Movement From Kansas
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. The receiving state’s entry requirements also apply, so always verify the destination state’s rules before shipping.
The 2019 final rule amended scrapie regulations by changing the risk groups and categories established for individual animals and for flocks, increasing the use of genetic testing as a means of assigning risk levels to animals, and reducing movement restrictions for animals found to be genetically less susceptible or resistant to scrapie. This means that animals with favorable genotype results may qualify for reduced movement restrictions — a benefit worth discussing with your accredited veterinarian.
Intrastate Movement and Market Sales
States must 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. In Kansas, this means that even a sale between two Kansas producers triggers the official ID requirement if either party engages in interstate commerce.
The animal health commissioner is authorized to issue a special quarantine on such conditions as the commissioner deems necessary to prevent the spread of infectious and contagious diseases in the state of Kansas. If any livestock upon inspection are found not to be free and clear of infectious and contagious diseases, such livestock shall be disposed of by sale at a public market for immediate slaughter, delivery at a licensed disposal plant, return to place of origin, or held under quarantine subject to the orders and rules of the animal health commissioner.
Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in Kansas
Surveillance is the engine of scrapie eradication. Kansas producers have specific obligations to report suspect animals, submit samples from dead animals, and cooperate with quarantine orders when disease is found or suspected.
Reporting Suspect Animals
If you have an adult sheep or goat 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.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health is your primary state contact for scrapie reporting. You can reach them at 785-564-6601 or visit the KDA animal diseases page for current guidance.
On-Farm Sample Submission
To declare the United States scrapie-free, APHIS must prove to the world that testing has been conducted in all sheep and goat populations. That is why owner submission of samples from sheep and goats over 18 months of age found dead or euthanized on farm is extremely important.
Accredited veterinarians can either remove and submit whole heads or collect and submit specified tissues for scrapie testing. Your local APHIS Veterinary Services office can provide current sample submission protocols and approved laboratory contacts. More information is available through the NVAP Reference Guide on scrapie control and eradication.
Quarantine and Affected Flock Management
When a flock is confirmed or suspected positive for scrapie, both federal and Kansas state authority governs what happens next. The 2019 final rule changed the risk groups and categories for individual animals and flocks, and provided designated scrapie epidemiologists with more alternatives and flexibility when testing animals in order to determine flock designations under the regulations.
K.A.R. 9-10-46 governs quarantine requirements for diseased or exposed livestock or exotic animals at a public livestock market. If disease is identified at a Kansas market, the market veterinarian and KDA work in coordination with APHIS to trace all exposed animals and impose appropriate movement restrictions.
| Trigger Event | Required Action | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Animal showing neurologic signs | Report immediately; do not move animal | 866-536-7593 or KDA 785-564-6601 |
| Animal over 18 months found dead on farm | Submit brain/lymphoid tissue sample | Accredited veterinarian or APHIS VS office |
| Positive scrapie diagnosis | Cooperate with flock designation and quarantine | APHIS Designated Scrapie Epidemiologist |
| Exposed animal identified | Hold under movement restriction pending investigation | State Veterinarian / APHIS VS |
Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in Kansas
The SFCP is a voluntary program 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.
The National Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program increases the marketability of sheep and goats from flocks that have demonstrated freedom of scrapie disease by adhering to program standards over time. For Kansas producers who sell breeding stock, export animals, or compete in shows, SFCP status is a meaningful competitive advantage.
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.
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.
SFCP Tags and Enrollment
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. This distinction matters — using SFCP tags on a non-enrolled flock is a compliance violation.
To enroll a Kansas flock in the SFCP, contact your APHIS Veterinary Services district office or the KDA Division of Animal Health. Enrollment triggers an initial inspection, inventory reconciliation, and assignment of a program status level. From that point forward, annual inspections and ongoing recordkeeping are required to maintain and advance your status.
Benefits of SFCP Participation for Kansas Producers
Beyond disease protection, SFCP enrollment delivers practical business benefits:
- Reduced movement restrictions — certified flocks face fewer documentation hurdles when moving animals interstate
- Export eligibility — Export Certified status meets the requirements of many countries that otherwise restrict U.S. sheep and goat imports
- Premium pricing — buyers of breeding stock pay more for animals from certified flocks with documented disease-free histories
- Indemnity advantages — in the event of a disease investigation, certified flocks may qualify for higher indemnity payments
- Contribution to national eradication — SFCP participation feeds directly into the surveillance data APHIS needs to eventually declare the U.S. scrapie-free
For full SFCP enrollment details, program standards, and approved testing protocols, visit the USDA APHIS National Scrapie Eradication Program page. The American Sheep Industry Association’s scrapie resources page also provides producer-friendly guidance on ID options and SFCP enrollment steps.
Staying Compliant as a Kansas Sheep or Goat Producer
The Scrapie Eradication Program in Kansas is not a single rule — it is a layered system of federal regulations, state administrative regulations, and voluntary certification standards that work together. Your obligations depend on how you use your animals: whether you sell breeding stock, move animals through markets, export to other states, or simply raise a small personal flock.
At minimum, every Kansas sheep and goat producer who moves or sells animals must obtain a flock or premises ID, apply official identification to animals before they leave the property, and maintain purchase and sales records that link each animal to a traceable ID number. If an animal shows neurologic signs or dies on farm at over 18 months of age, you have a reporting and sample-submission obligation that supports the broader national goal of scrapie eradication.
For producers who want to go further, SFCP enrollment is the most direct path to building a certified, market-ready flock with verified disease-free status. Contact the KDA Division of Animal Health at 785-564-6601 or visit the KDA animal disease traceability page to get started. You might also find it helpful to explore other wildlife and animal resources for Kansas as you build your understanding of the state’s broader agricultural and natural environment.