Scrapie Eradication Program in New Mexico: Rules Every Sheep and Goat Owner Must Know

If you raise sheep or goats in New Mexico, scrapie regulations affect nearly every aspect of how you identify, move, and manage your animals. Failing to comply can result in quarantines, restricted movement, and significant financial losses — not just for your operation, but for the state’s livestock industry as a whole.

This guide walks you through every layer of New Mexico’s participation in the National Scrapie Eradication Program — from what the disease actually is and why it is regulated, to official ID requirements, flock registration, movement rules, and the voluntary certification program that can improve the marketability of your animals.

What Is Scrapie and Why It Is Regulated in New Mexico

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. It is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). Understanding what makes this disease so difficult to manage helps explain why New Mexico — like every other state — enforces strict identification and movement rules around it.

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. This long incubation window means infected animals can silently spread the disease through an entire flock before any producer is aware of a problem.

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, poor muscle control, weakness, stumbling, and difficulty rising — all neurological in nature.

There are two types of scrapie: classical and nonclassical. Nonclassical scrapie is also referred to as atypical, Nor98, or Nor98-like scrapie. It 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.

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. Importantly, there is currently 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.

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 yet free of scrapie. New Mexico’s livestock economy depends on maintaining compliance with the national program to protect both producers’ bottom lines and interstate commerce access. If you own goats in New Mexico, understanding these disease regulations is a foundational part of responsible ownership.

New Mexico’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. New Mexico participates in this program as a partner state, with the New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB) and the State Veterinarian’s office serving as the primary state-level enforcement and coordination authorities.

In 2000, the USDA, as part of the Lamb 201 industry initiative, 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. The accelerated program, more commonly called the National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP), was put into regulation in September 2001.

The National Scrapie Eradication Program, coordinated by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has reduced the prevalence of scrapie in adult sheep sampled at slaughter by over 99 percent. Despite this progress, the program is still finding scrapie-positive animals. The most recent two cases found in the U.S. were sampled at slaughter — a sheep tested in Wisconsin in 2021, and a goat in Indiana in 2019. However, APHIS was unable to trace these to the farms of origin. It is likely there are still farms with cases of scrapie.

New Mexico’s role in the program includes enforcing state-level identification and movement requirements that align with — and in some cases exceed — federal minimums. 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.

Without producer cooperation, 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. New Mexico producers play a direct role in closing that gap through proper identification, reporting, and surveillance participation.

Official Animal Identification Requirements in New Mexico

Official animal identification is the cornerstone of scrapie program compliance in New Mexico. Both federal regulations under 9 CFR Part 79 and New Mexico’s own administrative code (21.32.2 NMAC, most recently revised July 16, 2024) set out what identification is required, which animals need it, and when it must be applied.

All sexually intact sheep and goats, regardless of age, and wethers of either species 18 months of age and older must also be identified with a permanent official identification device or a permanent method approved by USDA for use in the scrapie program, unless the animals are under 18 months of age and are moving directly or through a slaughter-only sale to slaughter or to a terminal feedlot, or are animals of any age moving for management purposes to another premises also rented or owned by the flock owner without a change of ownership.

Some states have identification requirements that are stricter than federal requirements, so the exceptions listed below do not apply in all states. New Mexico is one such state. Always confirm current requirements with the New Mexico Livestock Board before assuming a federal exception applies to your intrastate movements.

Approved Identification Methods

New Mexico recognizes several USDA-approved official identification methods for sheep and goats:

• Official plastic eartags — flock ID tags bearing the producer’s APHIS- or state-assigned flock ID followed by an individual animal number
• Official metal serial tags — bearing the state postal abbreviation, two letters, and four numbers
• Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags — electronic tags that can be scanned; a national premises ID is required to purchase official 840 RFID tags
• Implantable electronic devices (microchips) — subject to restrictions; refer to the NSEP Program Standards for details
• 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

Sheep and goats destined for show or exhibition are exempt from paint, chalk, or fire brand regulations, provided such sheep and goats are identified with a permanent official identification device or permanent method approved by USDA for use in the scrapie program. Exhibition livestock, including sheep and goats, may be identified with an official EID tag, which is an accepted means of identification.

All owners of sheep and goats in the state of New Mexico are required to have a wool/hair brand registered in the office of the New Mexico Livestock Board, and such brand is the sole property of the recorded owner. The brand may be applied by means of paint, chalk, hot iron, tattoo, or eartags. Additionally, earmarks may be used as a means of identification and, if used, the earmark must be recorded in conjunction with the recorded brand.

How to Obtain Official Tags

To request official sheep and goat tags, a flock or premises ID, or both, call 1-866-USDA-Tag (866-873-2824). 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. Producers and others who handle sheep in commerce who need additional tags or want a different type or color of tag may purchase official plastic, metal, or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags directly from approved tag manufacturers. A flock or premises ID is required to order tags from these sources.

Flock Registration and Recordkeeping Requirements in New Mexico

Before you can obtain official identification tags in New Mexico, you need a flock ID or premises ID assigned by APHIS or the state. This registration step is the starting point for all scrapie program participation and is required whether you are a small hobby producer or a large commercial operation.

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 or flock. These records are not optional — they form the backbone of the traceability system that allows APHIS and state officials to conduct disease investigations when needed.

What Records You Must Keep

Under the NSEP, your recordkeeping obligations include the following categories of information:

• Official identification numbers of all animals in your flock
• Dates and sources of all animals acquired (including the flock of origin and seller’s contact information)
• Dates and destinations of all animals leaving your premises (including slaughter, sale, or transfer)
• Birth records for animals born on your premises
• Any deaths, euthanasias, or culls of animals 18 months of age or older

The 2019 final rule established more consistent animal identification and recordkeeping requirements for sheep and goats. The rule also moved specific requirements for official eartags and official identification methods — such as tattoos and implantable electronic ID (microchips) — and indemnity calculations to the NSEP Standards. You should review the current NSEP Program Standards document available on the APHIS website for the full recordkeeping specifications that apply to your operation.

New Mexico’s 21.32.2 NMAC also requires that all sheep and goats being moved, transported, driven, or otherwise transferred from one premises to another must bear a recorded means of identification. This state-level recordkeeping obligation runs parallel to — and reinforces — the federal NSEP requirements.

Interstate and Intrastate Movement Rules for Sheep and Goats in New Mexico

Movement rules for sheep and goats in New Mexico operate on two tracks: federal rules governing interstate commerce and state rules governing movement within New Mexico. Both apply to you as a producer, and in some cases New Mexico’s intrastate rules are more demanding than the federal baseline.

Interstate Movement

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. For breeding animals specifically, a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) is required.

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 or other uses as described in 9 CFR Part 79. State importation requirements may vary, so you should check each state’s importation requirements prior to sending the animals.

When moving breeding sheep or goats out of New Mexico, your animals must:

1. Bear official USDA-approved identification (eartag, RFID, or approved tattoo)
2. Be accompanied by a valid Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued by an accredited veterinarian
3. Not originate from a flock currently under a scrapie quarantine, trace designation, or source flock classification
4. Meet the destination state’s specific importation requirements, which may be stricter than federal minimums

When importing sheep or goats into New Mexico from another state, you must ensure the animals meet New Mexico’s entry requirements. Contact the New Mexico Livestock Board or State Veterinarian’s office to confirm current entry documentation requirements before animals arrive at the state line.

Intrastate Movement

All sheep and goats moving from one livestock district to another livestock district must have a New Mexico registered brand and an in-state move inspection Form 1 or Form 1A issued by an NMLB brand inspector or livestock inspector. Sheep and goats bearing a legal New Mexico brand may move to a New Mexico licensed livestock auction market under a permit issued by the market (Form X), to be inspected at the market.

The September 2001 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. New Mexico complies with this requirement through its NMLB identification and brand inspection system.

For intrastate movements where ownership does not change — such as moving animals between two properties you own or lease — animals of any age moving for management purposes to another premises also rented or owned by the flock owner without a change of ownership are exempt from the official ID requirement under state and federal rules. However, you should document these movements in your flock records regardless.

New Mexico is home to a wide variety of livestock and wildlife species. Producers managing land that also supports native wildlife — from snakes to hawks — should be aware that certain predator pressures can increase stress-related health events in sheep and goat flocks, making routine health monitoring all the more important.

Reporting, Testing, and Quarantine Requirements in New Mexico

Surveillance and reporting are active obligations under the NSEP — not passive ones. If you have animals showing signs consistent with scrapie, you are required to report them. Understanding what triggers a reporting obligation, how testing works, and what a quarantine means for your operation is essential.

When You Must Report

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 that dies, 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.

Submission of samples from sheep and goats over 18 months of age found dead or euthanized on your farm is extremely important. This on-farm surveillance is one of the primary ways the program finds the remaining cases of scrapie that slaughter surveillance alone cannot detect.

How Testing Works

There is no charge for the collection or testing of samples for scrapie. In addition, producers providing samples may be eligible for free official plastic tags as long as supplies last. 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. APHIS provides shipping boxes and pre-printed, postage-paid labels at no cost to producers and accredited veterinarians, removing a significant logistical barrier to participation.

Quarantine and Flock Classification

When a scrapie-positive or suspect animal is identified, APHIS and the State Veterinarian initiate a classification investigation. Your flock may be designated as an infected flock, a source flock, or an exposed flock depending on the epidemiological findings.

An infected flock is the flock of origin of a female animal that a State or APHIS representative has determined to be a scrapie-positive animal, or any flock in which a scrapie-positive female animal has resided unless an epidemiologic investigation shows that the animal did not lamb or abort in the flock. A flock will no longer be considered an infected flock after it has completed the requirements of a flock plan.

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.

If the appointed members of the New Mexico Livestock Board have reason to believe that any area or region contains a health risk from dangerous and contagious diseases that could affect livestock, the board may designate that area or region as one from which movement of livestock to New Mexico or within New Mexico is prohibited. For the purpose of immediate control and protection of the state’s livestock, that determination may be made by the director in consultation with the state veterinarian and then ratified at the next meeting of the appointed board.

New Mexico’s beekeeping community faces similar regulatory frameworks for disease management. If you manage multiple agricultural enterprises, reviewing New Mexico’s beekeeping laws alongside scrapie rules gives you a clearer picture of the state’s overall approach to agricultural disease prevention.

Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) in New Mexico

Beyond mandatory compliance, New Mexico sheep and goat producers have the option to enroll in the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program (SFCP) — a voluntary program that can significantly increase the marketability of your animals and demonstrate your commitment to disease-free production.

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). 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.

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 Enrollment Requirements

To enroll your New Mexico flock in the SFCP, you must meet the following baseline requirements:

• Obtain an official flock or premises ID from APHIS or the state
• Apply official individual identification to all sheep and goats in your flock
• Maintain complete records of all animal acquisitions, disposals, births, and deaths
• Allow annual flock inspections and inventory reconciliation by a state or APHIS veterinarian
• Acquire replacement ewes or does only from flocks of equal or higher SFCP status
• Submit animal samples as required by the program standards for your enrolled status level

SFCP tags may only be purchased by owners of flocks participating in the Scrapie-Free Flock Certification Program. These distinctive tags visually signal your flock’s certified status to buyers, auction markets, and veterinarians — an important marketing advantage when selling breeding stock.

For a country to be considered free of scrapie, international standards require that no sheep or goats test positive for classical scrapie for seven years. Flock-level certification through the SFCP directly supports the national effort to reach that benchmark and opens export markets that remain closed to producers from non-certified flocks.

Maintaining Your SFCP Status

Once enrolled, maintaining your SFCP status requires ongoing compliance with annual inspection schedules, continuous recordkeeping, and sourcing animals only from flocks at or above your current status level. Any lapse in compliance — such as introducing animals from an uncertified flock or missing an annual inspection — can result in a status downgrade or removal from the program.

Contact the New Mexico State Veterinarian’s office or your local USDA APHIS Veterinary Services office to initiate enrollment or to get current information on the specific documentation and inspection schedule required for your desired SFCP status level. You can also reach the national NSEP team at scrapie@usda.gov or by calling 1-866-USDA-TAG for tag and enrollment assistance.

New Mexico producers who are also engaged with other aspects of state animal law — such as roadkill regulations or livestock injury liability — will find that the state takes a similarly structured, enforcement-backed approach to agricultural compliance across the board. Staying current with all applicable regulations protects your operation and your animals.

Key Takeaways for New Mexico Sheep and Goat Producers

Scrapie compliance in New Mexico is not a one-time task — it is an ongoing obligation built into how you identify, move, record, and report on your animals. The rules exist because the consequences of a scrapie outbreak extend well beyond a single flock, affecting the entire state’s ability to participate in interstate and international livestock commerce.

Here is a quick summary of your core obligations:

• Identification: All sexually intact sheep and goats of any age, and wethers 18 months and older, must carry official USDA-approved ID before leaving your premises
• Flock registration: Obtain a flock or premises ID from APHIS or the state before ordering tags or enrolling in any program
• Recordkeeping: Maintain complete, current records of all animal acquisitions, disposals, births, and deaths
• Intrastate movement: Obtain brand inspection paperwork (Form 1 or Form 1A) when moving animals between New Mexico livestock districts
• Interstate movement: Ensure animals have official ID and a valid Certificate of Veterinary Inspection; verify destination state requirements in advance
• Reporting: Report any adult animal showing neurological signs or any adult death or euthanasia to your State Veterinarian or APHIS at 866-536-7593
• SFCP (optional): Enroll in the Scrapie Free Flock Certification Program to improve marketability and support national eradication goals

For the most current state-specific requirements, always contact the New Mexico Livestock Board or the USDA APHIS Scrapie Program page directly. Regulations are periodically updated, and your compliance depends on working from the most current version of both state and federal rules.