scrapies tags

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Are the scrapies tags related to the proposed NAIS? They always say they aren't, but yesterday some lady was saying they were?

Any sheep or any goat that is near sheep has to have a scrapie tag to be moved or sold.

[Anon001]

I was under the impression that it is not related to NAIS. However, scrapie is the same thing as mad cow, but it is in goats and sheep. I would be curious to know. However, now that I think of it, here, I can order them for free from the state, but I don't know what information is required. A buddy says he didn't have to give them any information except his mailing address which would imply that they may not be NAIS. Also, NAIS is identification tags. Scrapie tags are not id tags for individual animals that follow them from birth to death. With NAIS, each individual animal is given it's own registration... but not with the scrapie tags. So now that I think about it, I would say it isn't NAIS because the scrapie tags are not number specific to a particular registered animal.

My buddy that got his said he told them how many he needed and they just sent them to him. He didn' have to register any of the animals or his premise for id.

[goodwifefarm]

Hi! I raise goats in Illinois and here the only way that you have to have Scrapies tags is to sell them at auction. If you sell them privately, you don't need the tags (yet) When you call to get the tags, all you have to do is tell them your name and mailing address. They will ask you how many tags you need to get through a year, then they assign you a farm number (which is printed on all your tags) and they mail you the tags and the tagging tool. It isn't related to NAIS in anyway other than that now the state knows that you breed goats, which I guess does put you on their radar. The local sale barn used to tag goats for you if you didn't have the tags, but now they won't. You have to get the tags yourself.

Hope this helps!

sarah

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Thanks for your answers. I was just curious.

[Anon001]

Goodwife,

Here in Kansas, we aren't required to have any type of livestock tagged. I had thought about getting the free tags just so that I wouldn't have to buy my own! LOL. With as much livestock as I keep, I have to keep them (cattle and goats) tagged and numbered for identification, just for my own record keeping.

[goodwifefarm]

Hi Paul,

I don't blame you, I like it for that reason as well. I've got a pair of mother and daughter goats that are very hard to tell apart and even though I don't have many goats, I like having them tagged for that reason. They also have different colored collars on so that I can be sure from a distance! It's nice because they send you the tags, and the tagger for free! It's not often that your state government (or ANY government for that matter) gives you something for free! I'd say take advantage of it! ;D

Have a great day!

sarah

[crmemory]

We just got our cheviot sheep in IL today. I just off the phone with the vet to discuss everything that was done prior to purchase. According to her, we were required to have scrapies testing and tagging for any sheep sold in the state of IL--it didn't matter if it was private, auction, out of state or in state. The only way to NOT test legally was to keep them on your farm. If the sheep were to be moved for any sale, law is that they are tested. In doubt, I researched this, and sure enough, it is listed as IL state law under the ag and livestock laws. She also explained that the tags are numbered so they can be traced all the way back to their original owner in the event of an outbreak. She also made one comment that made me very nervous....she said that, although the tags aren't ideal, "it is the best they can do until the electronic monitoring system gets up and running! " Sounds too close to NAIS for my comfort!

It makes me nervous to now be "in the system," but what can I do? So I would look at your state laws for sure.

[goodwifefarm]

Hello,

Congrats on your new sheep! Is this for both sheep and goats or just sheep? I've almost decided to just keep or eat everything that I breed, that way it's much harder to track me! ;)

sarah

[crmemory]

That sounds like a good idea! I don't know if it applies to goats or not. We are only getting sheep at the moment. The goats will come later (and by then, the law may be different anyway!) ::)

[goodwifefarm]

Yeah you never do know what they are going to do! ;D

sarah

[momma_to_seven_chi]

That sounds like a good idea! *I don't know if it applies to goats or not. *We are only getting sheep at the moment. *The goats will come later (and by then, the law may be different anyway!) ::)


It applies to any goats kept on the same land as sheep are kept on. If you take your goats to 4H shows or market or have sheep on your land, they are supposed to have a scrapies tag.

[goodwifefarm]

I was curious if you need scrapies tags to sell to an individual, not at auction. I have scrapies tags for my goats, and I don't have sheep, but I was told you only needed the tags for goats if they were sold at auction, not privately to an individual. And of course you need them to exhibit. I am in Illinois, and I know the laws vary from state to state.

sarah

[Anon001]

Goodwifefarm,

The need for tags at sale (private or individual) is not a federal requirement or a federal law. It is a state to state case. So, I would either go online and check with your state's Department of Agriculture or call your extenion office.