Genotype Test Funding for Scrapie

March/April 2005 -- The American Sheep Industry Association is cooperating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to help sheep producers, who are interested, to have their rams genotyped for scrapie susceptibility/resistance. Beginning May 1, 2005, and until Sept. 15, 2005, or when the funds are exhausted (whichever comes first), producers in states that do not have State-APHIS cooperative ram genotyping programs will be eligible for a cost-share reimbursement for having up to 10 of their own rams genotyped.

Producers will need to have an accredited veterinarian collect blood samples from their rams after May 1, 2005. The veterinarian will then send the sample to an APHIS approved laboratory along with a properly completed "APHIS VS Form 5-29." Producers can choose to have their samples sent to any APHIS approved lab. For reimbursement, just send an original carbon copy of the "AHIS VS Form 5-29" signed by the veterinarian to ASI with a note requesting a cost share. ASI will, in turn, send a check to the producer to help offset the cost of the test. The exact amount of the cost-share has not yet been established, but it will be announced prior to May, when the program begins. Watch for up-dated information on the amount of the cost-share in future editions of Sheep Industry News and ASI Weekly.

States that do not have State-APHIS cooperative genotyping programs, therefore making those producers eligible to participate in this program, are: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Vermont.

Producers in states not listed above should contact their state veterinarian regarding participation in the State program.

The "APHIS VS form 5-29"form must be completely and accurately filled-out to receive a reimbursement. Pay special attention to the number on the form, Practitioner's Signature and the Official Id Number.

• Veterinarian Signature
• Official Scrapie ID Column Heading
• VS Form 5-29 Serial Number (appears in the upper right corner)

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