Hi John, I am not SFCP but had always planned on becoming SFCP. I have a theft problem that has left me unable to account for where my sheep went. This was my biggest obstacle to becoming SFCP. My approach in place of the SFCP is to eliminate Q at codon 171 and V at codon 136. This is a work in progress but I am getting closer to achieving it. So I shifted emphasis from a government program to a private program with diagnostic lab support. There is evidence that hair sheep can acquire scrapies. But to be fair, the scrapies was intentionally administered to the sheep in a laboratory setting (not naturally acquired). So the SFCP really was advertising your farm did not have the presence of scrapies. If you maintained a closed flock on this scrapie free farm then there is no reason for your sheep to have exposure to this prion disease. So I would think you could still successfully advertise your farm and sheep are free from scrapies to potential buyers. If you test your sheep and have RR at codon 171 that would also help your sales. I do think the government dropped the ball on scrapies. Most of my buyers have no idea of what I am talking about when it comes to scrapies resistance.
Mark Wintermute -----Original Message----- From: blackbelly-boun...@lists.blackbellysheep.info [mailto:blackbelly-boun...@lists.blackbellysheep.info] On Behalf Of John Carlton Sent: Saturday, July 27, 2013 8:50 PM To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] SFCP changes I'm aware that our hair sheep (ABB and Kats) are not susceptible and I do not export sheep, but up till now participating and being in the "complete monitored" category was easy - there were really no additional requirements above and beyond the mandatory program, the big difference was that the USDA Vet did an annual inspection to check my records (confirm compliance) and put eyes on the sheep (and we have a great USDA vet down here). In all my years participating I did actually have several buyers (maybe 4 or 5) inquire about our participation in the SFCP. I advertise my SFCP status on sale flyers and feel that it serves to let folks know that I am somewhat knowledgeable and that I am concerned about the welfare of the animals and sheep industry. Everybody is supposed to get an ID and tag their animals - we go the extra mile to insure that our animals are of the highest quality (that is one reason why we ask a premium price). That being said......I'm totally pissed that they decided to drop the "complete monitored" category and go with the new scheme. I actually participated in the teleconference call with USDA to discuss their proposal and gave them an ear full. But, once the bureaucrat has their mind made up (regardless of the science) we're screwed - I know because I was a bureaucrat. I am considering enrolling in the "select monitored category" just to maintain my "credibility" - the record keeping requirements are less than what I do anyway and with the number of adult sheep I keep, having one tested every 3 years is no big deal, EXCEPT: (1) that there are no trained private vets within 200 miles for the non-lethal testing, so - I can collect the samples myself at slaughter and deliver to the USDA lab about 150 miles away or use a USDA inspected slaughter house where they can coordinate the sampling; and (2) just one little false positive and there goes my whole darn herd. Number 2 is my biggest concern. If I was to wager, I'd wager that the USDA will try to make the testing mandatory in the not too distant future. They seem hell bent to achieve the impossible - 0 (statistically I think they are already there based on the numbers they report). I'm interested in reading what other SFCP enrollees are doing and why. John _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
