Home What is Scrapie? Certification Scrapie Genotyping Government Programs Whats New? Associated Links

Scrapie Canada Updates November 2005

Do you know the Difference Between the Genotyping and Certification Projects?

With the development of two new national programs, the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency has doubled their fighting power against scrapie- one of the most potentially dangerous diseases facing Canadian sheep and goat producers.  Yet with all the excitement surrounding the new programs, there remains to be some confusion around what it all means and how it will all happen.  The following chart explains the two different programs to answer some of the most common questions surrounding the programs.  If producers would like any further information or would like to apply to either program, please contact the Scrapie Project Coordinator at 519-836-0043.  Funding for these programs has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Program.

Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program

Objective
 To help producers determine whether scrapie exists within their sheep or goat operation, and to minimize the risk of introducing the disease into clean flocks or herds.
Who Can Participate?
 Any Canadian sheep or goat producer.
Duration of Program Producers must advance through 6 levels throughout the program.  This takes approximately 5 years.
Participant Requirements

» Purebred or commercial flocks are accepted into the program.

» Under the three strategies (Pathways) that producers can follow, basic requirements include: a closed ewe/ doe flock; submission of dead stock for scrapie testing; maintenance of a detailed flock/ herd inventory.

» Long-term commitment from producers.
Cost to Producers

» Producers must pay for an accredited veterinarian to inventory their flock/herd- this varies between vets.

» Producers are responsible for collecting the obex (brain) sample, either on their own or through a vet (this cost varies between vets).

» One dead animal per year must be produced.  Death can be either from culling or natural causes.

 

 

CFIA Locations

CFIA National Headquarters
59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0Y9
Tel: (613) 225-2342 / 1-800-442-2342
Fax: (613) 228-6601

Atlantic Headquarters
1081 Main St, PO Box 6088
Moncton, New Brunswick
E1C 8R2
Tel: (506) 851-7400
Fax: (506) 851-268

Ontario Headquarters
174 Stone Rd W
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 4S9
Tel: (519) 837-9400
Fax: (519) 837-9766

Quebec Headquarters
Room 746-C - 2001 University St, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 3N2
Tel: (514) 283-8888
Fax: (514) 283-3143

Western Headquarters
Room 654 - 220 4th Ave SE
Calgary, Alberta, T2G 4X3
Tel: (403) 292-4301
Fax: (403) 292-5707

Click here For more locations

What does the project pay for?

Producers will receive $50/ year for the first two years on the program.
» Lab analysis of the obex (brain) sample is paid for.

» Administration of the project is paid for.
Vet Information
 Producers must work with a vet approved by the CFIA.

National Survey of Scrapie Genetics in Canadian Purebred Sheep

Objective
 To help producers determine whether scrapie exists within their sheep or goat operation, and to minimize the risk of introducing the disease into clean flocks or herds.
Who Can Participate?
 To maintain flock productivity while increasing scrapie resistance of the flock through genotyping rams and ewes.
Duration of Program

» A one-time commitment from producers.

» Samples will be accepted between June 2005 and November 2006, with funding available for 36,000 head.
Participant Requirements

» All sheep tested must be registered with the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation (CLRC).

» Producers do not have to be a member of the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association.

» Producers are not required to make any changes in flock population (no culling required).
Cost to Producers

» Producers can either use a vet for collecting blood samples or use ear tags designed to collect tissue samples (no vet required for this).

» $10/ sample for lab analysis of 3 codons (136, 154, 171) of the sheep prion gene.
What does the project pay for?

» 70% of the vet visit is reimbursed, up to $6.00/ sample.

» 50% of shipping costs will be reimbursed.  [*All invoices must be sent to the Scrapie Project Coordinator within 90 days of the sampling].

» Producers can receive $5.00/ animal for any samples taken between June 2003 and June 2005 by submitting official lab reports of genotype results to the Scrapie Project Coordinator.  The analysis must have been completely paid for by producers- not funded through various provincial projects.
Vet Information Vet does not have to be accredited with the CFIA.

Back to Scrapie Updates
 
Program Coordinator Contact