Scrapie eradication efforts continue

Posted: Thursday, February 7, 2013 11:50 am

AUSTIN - The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) continues to work with the Texas sheep and goat industries toward the eradication of Scrapie. Texas currently leads the nation in sheep and goat production. A common goal of the US Sheep Industry and the American Sheep Industry (ASI) is to eradicate Scrapie from the US borders by 2017.

To help achieve this goal, the USDA is considering a proposed rule that would make the identification requirements for goats similar to those currently in place for sheep, as well as possibly expanding surveillance efforts for Scrapie in goats. Once the disease is eradicated, the US would then seek recognition as Scrapie-free in accordance with the World Organization for Animal Health. (OIE)

Texas leads the nation in sheep and goats production. Since 2009, there have been no confirmed cases of Scrapie in Texas. The last big spike in Texas Scrapie cases was in 2006 with 9 infected herds.

According to USDA regulations, Texas must conduct adequate Scrapie surveillance by a collecting a minimum of 598 sheep samples annually. In 2012 there were 1,050 samples collected from animals with Texas tags.

Dr. Dee Ellis, State Veterinarian, said, "Texas has made significant progress in battling this disease. The Scrapie Program has proven to be successful in Texas. Fighting this disease and implementing an animal identification program has worked." To date, Texas has 30 participating flocks enrolled in the Scrapie Flock Certification program.

Nationally, in 2005, there was a peak in Scrapie numbers. In the last fiscal year, for the first time ever, there were more Scrapie field cases in goats than in sheep. In fiscal years 2008 and 2011, two significant Scrapie outbreaks occurred in goats in volving a total of 18 positive goats.

The National Scrapie Eradication Program continued to make excellent progress in fiscal year 2012. In FY 2012, the percent of cull sheep found positive at slaughter decreased. This measure of prevalence decreased 96.2 percent since slaughter surveillance started in FY 2003 and 24.7 percent, respectively since FY 2011. Additionally, there was a 47% decrease in the number of infected and source flocks identified during FY 2012 compared to the previous fiscal year.

Scrapie is a degenerative disease of the nervous system that falls into the category of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE). The disease is caused by a transmissible prion or abnormal protein which is very stable in the environment. Traditional blood tests are not reliable to diagnose Scrapie, so a sample is needed to diagnose it. Currently, no treatment exists for Scrapie. There is no known evidence of Scrapie transmission to humans.

While animals of any age may be exposed to Scrapie, lambs and kids are at the greatest risk of contracting the disease and are often infected by their dams shortly after birth.

Typically, infected animals don't show signs of Scrapie, such as behavioral changes, tremors, and incoordination that progresses to recumbency and death, until they are two years of age or older.

The most effective method of Scrapie prevention is to maintain a closed flock. Raising replacement ewes, purchasing genetically resistant (RR) rams or buying from a certified-free Scrapie flock are other options to reduce the risk the Scrapie. At this time the resistant genetic markers in goats have not been identified, therefore it is important to maintain your sheep and goat herds separately.

Since the incubation period for Scrapie is typically two to five years, producers should record individual identification numbers and the seller's premises identification number on purchase and sales records. These records must be maintained for a minimum of five years. "The success of the Scrapie Eradication Program is tied to producers keeping good records of sales and purchases," said Dr. Ellis.

TAHC rules regulate official identification tags or a registration tattoo be applied to all sheep 18 months of age and older, all breeding sheep, all breeding goats except those commingled with other sheep, and all sexually intact show or exhibition animals.

Producers should notify the Texas Animal Health Commission (800-550-8242) or the USDA-Austin Office (512-383-2400) if they have a sheep or goat over 18 months with neurologic signs such as incoordination, behavioral changes, or intense itching with wool loss. Producers may order Scrapie identification tags by calling 866-873-2824. For more information, please visit our web site atwww.tahc.texas.gov or give us a call.

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is one of the oldest state regulatory agencies. TAHC was founded by the legislature in 1893 with a mission to combat fever ticks that plagued the Texas Cattle Industry. Today, the agency works to protect the health of all Texas livestock including: cattle, equine, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, exotic livestock and fowl.

N.C. farm switches from produce to breeding goats

L.W. Shoaf holds two doelings among the rest of his Pygmy goat herd at his farm on Tyro Road on Friday.

Rebekah Cansler McGee/The Dispat

BY REBEKAH CANSLER MCGEE
The Dispatch

Published: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 2:18 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 2:18 p.m.

Shoaf Plantation, a staple at the Lexington (North Carolina) Farmer's Market, slowly made the transition this past year from growing produce to raising goats.

L.W. Shoaf, owner of Shoaf Plantation, said he was an integral part of the farmers' market, helping it get off the ground. He has also sold his produce there each summer, but a life-changing situation forced Shoaf's hand. It was either change directions or suffer major consequences.

Shoaf suffered heart problems a couple years ago, and his doctor told him if he didn't do something soon, he would have a massive heart attack. Not only did Shoaf have to have heart surgery, but he needed to reduce his stress.

His answer was to shift from commercial produce to breeding goats.

"I needed to do something with a little less stress on me," Shoaf explained, adding that he had owned goats in some form or other since he was 12 years old.

Before the switch, Shoaf had been growing commercial produce with a specialty in a tomato he dubbed Kangaroo Tomatoes. The farm, kept up by Shoaf and his wife, was just too much after the near heart attack.

"Gosh, I just felt so much peace about making the decision to switch that as the crops matured off, I changed to pasture land," Shoaf said.

Shoaf now raises Nigerian Dwarf and Pygmy goats, mostly for pets, but the Nigerian Dwarf goat is also a milk goat. Some of Shoaf's clients are repeat customers, but he also garners new ones through pictures on his website and craigslist.com.

Click here to read more. 

TSC announces national FFA scholarship program

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Feb. 4, 2013) – As an extension of its sponsorship with the National FFA Foundation, Tractor Supply Company has recently announced a new scholarship program to assist FFA members in their pursuit of a college degree.

The Growing Scholars program will be supported nationally by each of the more than 1,150 Tractor Supply stores Feb. 15-24, which includes National FFA Week. Tractor Supply customers can donate $1 at store registers during the checkout process to support local FFA chapters and their members. Ninety percent of funds raised through Tractor Supply’s Growing Scholars program will be utilized to fund scholarships for FFA members. The remaining 10 percent of donations will benefit state FFA organizations.

            “This program will provide critical funding to FFA members who intend to pursue a college degree and local FFA chapters that enrich the lives of young members by teaching life skills, citizenship and leadership qualities,” said Tractor Supply President and CEO Greg Sandfort. “For us, this is an outstanding way to support our current and future customers and future team members and a way to give back to the 1,100-plus unique communities we serve.”

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be current FFA members and either high school seniors or a freshman, sophomore or junior college student seeking a two- or four-year degree or other specialized training program. Major areas of study will also be considered when determining scholarship recipients. 

“We are extremely grateful to Tractor Supply and its customers for supporting FFA, student and alumni members and agriculture education in general,” said National FFA Foundation Executive Director Robert K. Cooper.

In addition to the Growing Scholars program, Tractor Supply and the National FFA Foundation have many other joint initiatives, including the FFA horse evaluation career development event, National FFA Week and the annual National Association of Agricultural Educators Conference. At an individual store level, Tractor Supply continually hosts fund-raising events and works closely with local FFA chapters and high school agriculture advisors to provide resources and leverage synergies.

“Local high school agricultural advisors and FFA chapters feel at home in their local Tractor Supply stores,” said John Wendler, senior vice president of marketing at Tractor Supply. “These groups often host fund-raising events at our stores to raise money for community projects, like building a school greenhouse, a new bridge in a public park or an animal care lab. Our stores also work with local FFA members to support specific programs and proficiencies by providing demonstrations from knowledgeable Tractor Supply employees and our vendor partners, which brings significant value to both organizations.”

Tractor Supply has been a sponsor of the National FFA Foundation for 27 years. The National FFA Foundation is the fundraising arm of the National FFA Organization, which provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 557,318 student members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,498 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Autaugaville, Ala., goat shows on Friday

The Autauga Agribition will be held Friday, Feb. 1, at the Kirkpatrick Arena in Autaugaville, Ala. The events for this year are much the same as in past years.  This show is for all youth up to 19 or one year out of high school.  

Goats entered in the open Boer goat show must be registered in the ABGA, IBGA, USBGA or the Canadian Boer Goat Associations. They must be properly tattooed and have papers or applied for papers if they are under 3 months of age. Entry fee for all classes is $10.  

This year’s judge is Sylvester Ridings from Cumming, Ga. He is an ABGA-certified judge.  

Meat goats (wethers and market does)  will be shown by weight. The class break downs for wethers and market goats are under 35 lbs. prospect class; light, medium and heavy weight to be determined after the weigh in.  Commercial does will show in two junior classes and two senior classes. They will show by weight and junior does must still have their baby teeth.

The tentative schedule is as follows:  Registration and weigh in is 11:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M.   The Dairy goat show will begin at 2:30 followed by  Meat Goats and Commercial Does.  Showmanship, goat parade, dinner, % does, FB does and  Bucks will follow.   

Please contact Lee Anne Hall at 205-965-1360 for more information on the Dairy Goat Show and entry form.  

For information on all other events, contact Sam or Mary Lou Abney  (334-365-5146 Home)  and Day of Show (334-399-6957, Sam’s cell phone) or 334-312-5713 (Mary Lou’s Cell Phone).

AGF annual meeting Jan. 26 in San Antonio

San Antonio, TX – The American Goat Federation (AGF) will hold its annual Board of Directors and membership meeting on January 26 in San Antonio, TX. The meeting will convene at 8:00 AM Saturday morning in the Blanco Room of the Hyatt Regency. The morning session will consist of presentations by various speakers. There will be a break for lunch and the afternoon session will begin at 1:30 PM. All members of AGF and members of AGF member organizations are invited to attend.

Tentative Schedule for the Annual Meeting

8:00 AM Brief Opening Business Meeting

8:20 AM Presentation by Scharee Atchison from the NLPA Sheep and Goat Fund

8:30 AM Presentation by Diane L Sutton from APHIS. Dr. Sutton will provide an

update on the scrapie program.

8:45 AM Presentation by Katherine Marshall from APHIS. Dr. Marshall will provide

an update on Q-fever.

9:00 AM Presentation by Dr. Bryan Sayre from Virginia Tech University. Dr. Sayer

will give an overview and summary of Goat Genomics in the United States.

9:45 AM Break

10:00 AM Dr. Lawrence Yates, Livestock Marketing Specialist of AMS will provide an

update on the official goat standards and grades.

10:30 AM Dr. Will Getz, AGF Director will provide information about opportunities in

the Goat Scene in Myanmar.

11:00 AM Judy Malone from ASI will provide information about the FMD Cross

Species Working Group.

1:30 PM Dr. Frank Pinkerton, the Goat Man, will discuss how AGF can best serve

the goat industry.

2:00 PM Business Meeting

The American Goat Federation is a national organization that represents all segments of the goat industry, including meat, dairy and fiber. More information is available at www.AmericanGoatFederation.org. 

International Boer Goat Association folds; registry now resides with ABGA

Open Letter from former International BGA president Michael Wood:

Dear International Boer Goat Association Members,

With regret and sadness the end of an era is at hand. Effective December 31, 2012 the International Boer Goat Association ceased operation as a breed registry. There has been continuous and exhaustive efforts to maintain operations for many months. The reality of economic times and changes within our industry have collectively caused these efforts to become futile.  As with any home or farm operation when you continue to spend more than you generate you can only live off of reserves for so long.  The Association has operated with 1.5 employees for a year and executed every cut possible to maintain operations.

Your loyalty as a member was so appreciated. In the last year we maintained an actual membership of around 700 (including lifetime, individual, ranch and junior) Contrary to the belief of some; the National Show for 2011 & 2012 was at no cost to the Association and actually netted the association profit to survive on until now.  We were a breed registry and as such have to sell pedigree tracking on Registration Papers to stay in business.  With all things considered each green paper produced cost more to print than we took in money for at the current rate of registrations.

I know that there has been much discussion and miss-information circulating on this subject.  I am sorry that we could not make this decision public in a more timely way.  However, we were focused on the most important thing for our members; protection of the registration integrity, value and marketability. Many of you own dual registered animals that might not be dealt a devastating blow.  Our concern was mainly focused upon those members that chose to be 100% loyal International Boer Goat Association members and only own “green papers” on some or all of your animals.  In this particular circumstance I believe it is has proven just as difficult to close something as it is to start it. 

In regard to the above mentioned goal: in an effort to continue to provide the opportunity for registration, our database now resides with the ABGA. Those members wishing to become members of the ABGA every effort will be made to transfer their goats to the ABGA. Currently, a Registration / Transfer process plan is being drafted within the ABGA. Visit the ABGA website over the coming weeks for further information.

 A few parting “house cleaning” items:

-       The American Boer Goat Association has been working with us to provide transition opportunity of a new home to our members and animals.

-       Our registry was not sold to the ABGA but “gifted” as legal situations required.

-       All outstanding leases and bills of the Association have been or in the process of being satisfied.

-       The International Boer Goat Association is not filing bankruptcy.

-       We have a $70,000 outstanding balance on the property in Whitewright, TX that was paid quarterly at an amount of $3300 (this was one of the major sources of us “living above our means”)

-       The property has been for sale for over a year in the effort to relieve the debt and move the operations to a small, affordable location.

-       The property was recently reduced to $85,000 and remains for sale (office sits on approx 3 acres)

-       International Office and ABGA office have had a long standing cooperation in the research and registering animals. It was unfortunate for both associations when the decision was made to not accept International Papers – It was not directed at us, we were a legal causality of an unrelated situation.

-       All efforts will be made to honor existing Ennoblements. Unfortunately any ennoblement points earned but not resulting in previous ennoblement will fall under the ABGA ennoblement requirements currently in place.

-       The ABGA will welcome any of our longstanding shows pending approval – show contracts may be found at www.abga.org but will require a ABGA certified judge.

-       Our dedicated and talented judges are wanted in the ABGA. However, currently there is no agreement to accept International Judges on their experience or previous certification.  Discussions are ongoing on how and when there might be  opportunity for you to become ABGA certified.

-       Tonia Dawson and Amy Rackler continue to assist with the closure of the Whitewright office and have displayed loyalty and willingness to assist.  They both have plans for future employment.

-       There is likely to be backlog of transfers to ABGA as they do things differently.  Please be patient as they have to have our data operational to accurately transfer animals and generate new registration papers. Our systems are completely different.

-       Possible Confusion: The International Boer Goat Association has not in many years had the legal rights to the letters “IBGA”  IF: you receive any information about a animal registry in the future that uses these letters, IT WILL NOT BE in reference to “Green Papered” Animals  - WARNING _- DO NOT BE FOOLED

-       The Name: International Boer Goat Association will be protected by the American Boer Goat Association and as such will not be used by any other breed registry in the future.

-       Any member that may have paid their 2013 membership dues in the month of December will be contacted individually and either refunded their membership dues or have them forwarded to the ABGA at their choice.

-       There is no contact option for the International Boer Goat Association Office as it is officially closed.

-       If you choose to transfer your “green papers” for “red papers” in order to show in the 2013 season, I would suggest to get your paperwork in order very soon and be prepared to be very patient as this will be a very trying time on the ABGA office staff.

-       No personal information is being shared with ABGA – only Animal Registration Information – All other information will be destroyed.

Personal Note:

I certainly wish things could have been different.  I have never been “against” ABGA I have simply been “For” the International Association and the Family atmosphere that many of us worked to foster.  I have worked with and met many wonderful, compassionate and giving people over the last several years.  I personally plan to pay my ABGA membership and eventually get all my “green papers” traded in for “red papers”.  The same people that have worked so hard keeping the International functional over the last few years will now have the opportunity to lend their efforts and expertise to the ABGA by continuing to sponsor goat shows and youth events and becoming judges. We have tried diligently to be more than just a place to purchase a “green paper”.  I will certainly miss the “green” tradition.  So many have given of their time, efforts and finances to the International Boer Goat Association.  Your influence was great and your intensions were the best.  Thank You from the depth of my heart, hope to see you down a new successful road soon.

You may still use me as a contact for “problems” as they may arise but please direct all registration questions to the ABGA office if you choose to transfer animals there. woodlandhillsnur@aol.com

Thanks so much!

Michael Wood

Former President/CEO

International Boer Goat Association

Goats Provide Healthy, Economical Weed Control

Monday, December 17, 2012 :: Staff infoZine

Goats are natural brush control agents.

  

Kirksville, MO - infoZine - Charlotte Clifford-Rathert, assistant professor and state extension small ruminant specialist with Lincoln University Cooperative Extension and Research, spoke at the recent University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Livestock Symposium Committee organize the annual event.

Landowners are seeing the value of small ruminants for many reasons. According to the 2007 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service census, the number of goats in the U.S. increased by 24 percent from 2002 to 2007, making this the fastest-growing segment of the livestock industry.

Clifford-Rathert, a graduate of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, is conducting a three-year study on the value of goats in controlling noxious weeds and invasive exotic plant species while improving wildlife habitat. She uses four breeds at four sites: an organic farm at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, the USDA's Elsberry Plant Materials Center in Lincoln County, and Crowder College in southwestern Missouri. She also plans to examine the effect goats have on weed control in orchards, vineyards, around chicken houses and in lagoon lots.

Photo courtesy of USDA

Goats reduce the need for mowing while providing an environmentally friendly alternative to herbicides. They save on fuel costs and can control weeds in poor terrains that cannot be reached by machines. As a general rule, goats prefer browsing on brush rather than grass, making them complementary to cow herds that prefer grass.

By using rotational grazing, goat owners can manage grazing heights and reduce parasite levels, she said.

How many goats should you stock? Rates vary by pasture quality, rainfall, time of the year, soil fertility and other considerations, including predators.

For predator control, Clifford-Rathert and other goat owners are finding donkeys and llamas to be alternatives to dogs. She said donkeys should be less than a year old when chosen to guard goat herds and males should be castrated.

Goats are known for their climbing ability and curiosity, making them a fencing challenge. Portable fencing is needed to allow rotational grazing. Fence types include electric netting and poly-wire electric fences.