There have been additional changes to the Scrapie program. United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will provide a limited number of free, plastic tags to first time participants in the sheep and goat identification program through fiscal year (FY) 2020.
County Extension Educators may be issued tags that can be used to identify exhibition sheep and goats in cases where they were purchased without official ID and the exhibitor does not intend to establish a breeding flock/herd. You may receive 80 plastic or 100 metal serial tags free of charge, one time only.
County Extension Educators may also order serial plastic tags from tag manufacturers at their own expense. At this time, Allflex and Shearwell are the only manufacturers providing plastic serial tags.
You must first register with our office to either receive free tags from VS, or purchase official tags.
County Extension Educators will be responsible for obtaining their own tag applicator (metal tag applicator form attached, plastic tag applicators are available from manufacturer or farm chain stores) and will be responsible for keeping records of the animals you tag with your tags. You will be required to provide a copy of these records to our office.
Complete and return the form at https://go.unl.edu/ue0i via:
Email: VSNE@usda.gov or
FAX: 402-434-2330 or
Alternatively, you may call us at 402-434-2300 and provide this information.
Exhibitors should be reminded that sheep and goats purchased for exhibition should be officially identified by seller at time of purchase.
Exhibitors who are establishing a breeding flock should apply for a flock ID from USDA APHIS VS by calling 402-434-2300. Newly established Flock owners may receive a one time order of 80 plastic tags or 100 metal tags free (Note: Existing Flock owners can only receive 100 free metal tags every 2 years, or may purchase official plastic flock tags from approved companies only).
(Source: Sheri Gillham | sheri.l.gillham@usda.gov | 402-434-2302)