Archive for September 2010
Specipics : Scrapie Interstate Movement Rule
Consistent State Classification
APHIS describes interstate movement restrictions for “Consistent States” and “Inconsistent States”. ASI agrees that categorizing States for scrapie regulations accomplishes the general goal and our recommendation of “restricting the interstate movement of sheep and goats from States that do not quarantine scrapie infected and source flocks”. ASI has worked closely with our State affiliates and State animal health authorities over the past several years to help strengthen the States’ legislative authorities and regulatory structure for improved scrapie control programs. Read the rest of this entry »
Scrapie Interstate Movement Rule Recommentions
The proposed rule, in our opinion, can be boiled down to three key issues: animal identification, Consistent State requirements and indemnity. To help clarify our comments on the inter-twined nature of the proposed rule, we will comment on these three items first and then proceed to address some of the specific issues raised and answer the questions asked in the proposed rule. Read the rest of this entry »
PREFACE : ASI Comments on proposed Scrapie Interstate Movement Rule
AST are in general agreement with the agency’s approach to interstate movement restrictions in this proposed rule as discussed below. If a highly sensitive and specific live-animal test were validated and available now, testing and removal would be a more straight-forward and effective way to accomplish eradication in a shorter period of time than using the proposed system. It is ASI’s belief that such a test (third eyelid) is close to meeting the criteria for full validation and it appears to be highly sensitive and specific. We encourage APHIS to move forward in assisting with the further validation of this test and establishing the necessary diagnostic laboratory capabilities and infrastructure quickly in order to make the use of this test practical. AST also urge APHIS to prepare to amend or change existing regulations to accommodate the full use of this test for expeditious eradication activities as soon as it appears that the test will be ready. AST are also encouraging the Agriculture Research Service (ARS) and other research organizations to step up and continue their work on other diagnostic techniques and systems that will aid regulatory efforts and further scientific understanding of scrapie and other TSEs. In this regard, AST urge APHIS to develop effective regulatory approaches that will control and eradicate Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). AST believe that it is in the best interest of agriculture and the general public to eradicate all Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). Read the rest of this entry »
ASI Comments on proposed Scrapie Interstate Movement Rule
ASI appreciates the opportunity to comment on this proposed rule. In the successful argument of the Section 201 lamb meat import trade case, the petitioners asserted that eradication of scrapie is paramount to the U.S. sheep industry’s future competitiveness with Australian and New Zealand lamb production. This was verified in the President’s decision in July of this year when he granted funding for trade adjustment assistance targeted toward scrapie eradication. We applaud this decision and now look primarily to APHIS to build the necessary regulatory framework to accomplish eradication and to seek the necessary funding through the appropriations process to ensure eradication with appropriate surveillance. Read the rest of this entry »
Scrapie Eradication
DENVER - The American sheep industry has taken a giant step toward the goal of eradicating scrapie from its flocks with a declaration by USDA Secretary Dan Glickman enabling $10 million to support eradication programs.
Scrapie is a degenerative and ultimately fatal neurological disease in sheep and goats. The disease costs the industry an estimated $20 million every year in direct losses plus millions of additional dollars lost in potential sales. Read the rest of this entry »
USDA announces contact for producers of sheep, goat identification
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated the national scrapie program coordinator, national animal health programs as the office for companies to contact regarding production of official identification eartags and backtags for sheep and goats.
The national scrapie program coordinator, NAHP, will advise companies on production standards necessary for eartags and backtags to qualify as the official identification required for certain sheep and goats under Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regulations. Read the rest of this entry »
A Progress Report on the Katahdin Sheep Production Systems Group
Through on-farm and research station work, to study constraints, develop solutions, and demonstrate profitable systems for easy-care, low-input commercial lamb production based on appropriate non-traditional breeds for Georgia and Southeast climatic and economic environments. Non-traditional breeds. There are five well-defined breeds of hair sheep in the U.S. Read the rest of this entry »
Hair Sheep Composite Breeds for Easy-Care Lamb Production
Katahdin ewes are being compared to Dorset and Dorper crossbred ewes at the Southwest Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Dorset and Dorper crossbreds are being produced in spring, by mating white-faced crossbred ewes to Dorset and Dorper rams. Twenty Katahdin ewe lambs per year are being purchased at about 60 d of age, with four to six Katahdin flocks sampled in each year. Read the rest of this entry »
Northeast Katahdin Hair Sheep Project
The Northeast Katahdin Hair Sheep Project is structured to take advantage of the many advantages of the Katahdin and at the same time build a genetic base that will make the Katahdin an even more important part of the sheep industry. USDA, SARE has provided $135,000 funding for a four-year project based at a farm in Buxton, Maine owned by Brad and Sue Ray. Professor Tom Settlemire, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine and University of Maine Extension Educator Dick Brzozowski, Portland, Maine are co-directors of the project. Read the rest of this entry »
Katahdin Research at Virginia State University
The Small Ruminant Program at Virginia State University maintains a Katahdin flock of 26 purebred, but not registered, ewes. These ewes are currently maintained as one flock with two other hair sheep breeds (Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix), as well as three goat meat breed types (Spanish, Myotonic and Boer x Spanish ), under a forage-based system. Read the rest of this entry »