By Scout Nelson
Scrapie is a serious disease that affects sheep and goats. It is caused by abnormal proteins called prions that damage the brain and other parts of the body. The disease is fatal and there is currently no treatment for infected animals.
Ryan Spurling, Assistant Professor & SDSU Extension Small Ruminant Production Specialist along with Jaelyn Whaley and Russ Daly highlighted scrapie prevention and flock management, their guidance stresses the importance of identification, prevention, and responsible breeding practices for sheep and goat producers.
Scrapie usually affects animals that are at least two years old. Signs can include unusual behavior, frequent rubbing or scratching, poor coordination, and weight loss. Once signs appear, an infected animal may die within one to six months.
The disease can spread from an infected mother to her offspring through the placenta and other body fluids. It can also spread between adult animals when prions contaminate feeders, fences, watering areas, and other parts of the environment.
Proper identification is an important part of controlling scrapie. Breeding sheep and goats, animals older than 18 months, show animals, exposed animals and animals from noncompliant flocks generally need official scrapie identification. State requirements can differ, so producers should check rules before moving animals across state lines.
Producers can register their flocks in the USDA Scrapie Eradication database and obtain an official flock identification number. Approved manufacturers then provide scrapie tags.
Genetic testing is another useful prevention tool. Tests identify gene patterns linked to resistance or susceptibility. Animals with an RR pattern are highly resistant, QR animals are resistant, while QQ animals are susceptible. Using resistant breeding animals, especially RR rams, can help increase resistance within a flock.
The United States is working toward scrapie eradication. A recent case detected in July 2026 delays the earliest possible scrapie-free status to 2033. Reaching that goal requires continued cooperation from producers.
FAQs
Scrapie is a fatal prion disease that affects sheep and goats.
It can spread from infected mothers to offspring and through contaminated environments.
No, there is currently no treatment for infected animals.
- How can producers reduce scrapie risk?
Proper tagging, genetic testing, and resistant breeding stock can help reduce risk.
- Why are scrapie tags important?
Tags help identify an animal’s flock of origin and support disease tracing.
Photo Credit: istock-globalp
Categories: South Dakota, Livestock, Goats & Sheep