Defra today confirmed that plans are underway for a scheme to help sheep producers whose flocks have been affected by scrapie take action to prevent the disease from re-entering their flocks.
Farmers who have had scrapie cases confirmed on their holding since July 1998 will be invited to join a Voluntary Scrapie Flocks Scheme, as part of the National Scrapie Plan for Great Britain.
The scheme will provide free scrapie genotype testing of all sheep on the eligible farm. Farmers will be able to participate in a breeding programme that will increase levels of genetic resistance to scrapie in their flock through the selective use of resistant breeding rams1 and by avoiding the use of breeding ewes with more susceptible genotypes2 . Scrapie susceptible animals identified on these farms will be culled and replaced with more resistant stock. Government will provide compensation for culls and assistance with the purchase of resistant replacement rams through the scheme.
1 ARR/ARR only - but with flexibility to use Type 2 genotype rams granted on request for breeds with a low prevalence of the ARR allele
- for example in Scotland the Shetland breed.
2 Those with the VRQ allele - Type 4 & 5 genotypes (and possibly some with the ARQ allele dependent on the genotype of the Scrapie case and a veterinary assessment)
In line with scientific advice from the Government's independent scientific advisors, the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC), animals that are culled from participating flocks and shown to have no genetic resistance to scrapie will, on a precautionary basis, not go into the food chain. Under current EU legislation any animals suspected of showing signs of scrapie are already culled and destroyed.
We shall be writing to eligible farmers shortly to outline in more detail the benefits of the scheme and let them know that we envisage the scheme being open to applications by early 2004.
