Scrapie

Index

Comprehensive Report on the Scrapie Programme by George Elliott
Consultation on TSE Breeding Programme for Rare Breeds of Sheep
Information Concerning Transmissable Spongiform Encephalopathy (up to 2002)
Information Concerning TSEs since January 2002
Atypical Cases of Scrapie Found
National Scrapie Plan for Great Britain
Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme - Guidance for Farmers
Scrapie Genotyping and the National Scrapie Plan
Extra ewe genotyping
Scrapie Genotypes in Rare Sheep Breeds
News Update June 2004 - Type 3 rams sale & breeding restrictions
Breeding and sale restrictions on Type 3 rams no longer apply
Predicting Chart & Genotype Calculator Grid
Temporary arrangements for rare breeds of sheep participating in the National Scrapie Plan
Test Certificates and boluses - safeguard your own future and that of your flock
National Scrapie Plan Southdown Update
NSP histogram showing latest position of genotypes in Southdowns
The NSP Flock Register and how it works
NSP On-line Flock Register
DEFRA NSP/NSIP Semen Archive
Semen Archive for UK Rams - NSA support for industry initiative
SAMB - Service provider is ARK Consortium Ltd.
SAMB Welcomes Appointment of Breed Liaison Manager
Semen Archive Management Board - Procedures for Nomination of Rams to the Archive
SAMB Press Release - Financial Benefit from SAM Nominations
NSP/NISP Semen Archive – more added value!
Rare Breeds Survival Trust
RBST ram semen collection - More rams needed for the 2005/06 Season
National Scrapie Scheme Ram Register
Defra/NSP-approved explanation of the Semen Archives

NSP On-line Flock Register

This is now available on http://nspflockregister.defra.gov.uk/. This new facility will provide details of participating flocks and the FR category at which they are registered. It will be of particular value to those wishing to purchase sheep from flocks with greater levels of resistance to scrapie infection.

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FUTURE OF THE RAM GENOTYPING SCHEME

A review of the GB National Scrapie Plan (NSP) Ram Genotyping Scheme (RGS) has recommended that a fully-funded RGS is no longer appropriate. A consultation as to whether a cost shared genotyping scheme should continue in the future or whether the scheme should close will be consulted on in the summer. The RGS will remain open to members until the outcome of the consultation, but no ewes will be tested after April 1 2007.

The review follows a decision by the EU Council and Parliament to reject proposals for compulsory scrapie resistance testing in pure breed and pedigree flocks. The review included an examination by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC). It concluded that the latest research and surveillance testing concluded that BSE in the UK sheep flock is ‘very low if present at all’ and that the current RGS would have very little impact on public health protection.

EBLEX Sheep Practical Pointers, February 2007

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Fully funded scrapie testing ‘no longer appropriate’

By Howard Walsh

THE sheep industry has been given 12 months to decide what it wants to do about scrapie testing following a decision that full Government funding of a ram genotyping scheme (RGS) is no longer appropriate.

In consultation with stakeholders this summer, farming Ministers in England Scotland and Wales will decide whether there should be a cost-shared scrapie genotyping scheme in the future, or whether the scheme should close altogether.

In the meantime, testing visits already scheduled will go ahead and those whose NSP contracts expire at the end of March will be offered a further 12-month extension, fully funded. But ewes will no longer be tested to make up numbers.

The GB National Scrapie Plan RGS was reviewed during the second half of 2006, following an EU decision to reject proposals for compulsory scrapie resistance testing in purebred and pedigree flocks.

The review included an examination of the underpinning science by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) and an assessment of the benefits gained from the RGS over the last five years.

SEAC concluded that, based on latest research and surveillance testing, the prevalence of BSE in the UK sheep population was likely to be zero, or very low, if present at all and the current RGS would have little impact on public health protection.

The RGS will remain open to all members until the outcome of the consultation, but no ewes will be tested after April 1 this year.

National Sheep Association chief executive Peter Morris said the 12-month extension and consultation was a sensible move and it was pleasing that the original reason for its implementation was no longer an issue.

Also, the number of scrapie cases nationally was falling and from an economic point of view, scrapie was not a hugely significant disease, though it remained an animal health issue. He said it was difficult to predict which way interested parties would swing.

Farmers Guardian | 2 February, 2007
http://www.farmersguardian.com/

Atypical Cases of Scrapie Found

Defra has confirmed a case of atypical scrapie in a flock considered to be free of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). The case was found in one of the animals in a Defra maintained flock all of which were imported from New Zealand, a country considered to be free of TSEs. The flock is managed under strict bio-security conditions to ensure that the animals do not come into contact with other sheep. All sheep from the flock that are culled or die are routinely tested for TSEs. The case will now be the subject of an independent scientific investigation. The New Zealand authorities and the research laboratories that have received animals from this flock have been contacted.
[Published November 27th, 2006]

……………………………

The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) has detected a type of scrapie not previously reported in Great Britain. The finding was made during a survey of abattoir and fallen stock samples. The VLA recognised the possibility of 'atypical' cases of scrapie last year when scientists detected a small number of samples that produced contradictory results when tested with different methods. More

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News Update

June, 2004

NSP Type 3 Rams: Sale & Breeding Restrictions

It has recently been announced that the current National Scrapie Plan (NSP) sale and breeding restriction dates for 'Type 3' rams are being extended by 12 months.

As you may knnow, the restrictions on sale and breeding are imposed on NSP tested rams with genotypes that fall into the middle range of the NSP Genotypes table. These are sometimes referred to as 'Type 3' sheep. All NSP rams with these genotypes have the restriction dates printed on their NSP Genotype Certificates (NSP4).

This change is being made so that flock owners participating in the NSP can, if they wish, defer taking breeding decisions this year in respect of their Type 3 rams, pending the outcome of the compulsory breeding programme consultation exercise later this year.

The changes come into effect immediately but there is nothing you have to do.

NSP Certificates currently in circulation remain valid. You may continue to buy or sell rams with original restriction dates shown on their Certificates. Just notify us of the sale by completing sections three and/or four of the Certificate and return to NSP Administration Centre (NSPAC) as normal. In due course, Certificates showing the new restriction dates will be generated when sales, purchases or changes to animal details are notified to NSPAC.

For your reference is a revised table of Restriction Date categories for rams with 'Type 3' genotypes (click here to see table).

Semen Archive: Important Reminder to flock owners

A Semen Archive has now been established as an insurance against unforeseen future events. The archive will store semen from rams carrying those scrapie genes that will be, or may be, reduced in frequency from flocks undergoing NSP sampling. It will then be possible to re-introduce these genes in the future should the need arise.

Rams carrying one or two copies of the AHQ, ARH, ARQ and VRQ alleles may be eligible to act as semen donors, providing that the selection of the ram in question has been endorsed by your breed society. Rams with NSP Type 2, Type 3, Type 4 and Type 5 results should be considered, because all of these genotypes will carry at least one copy of AHQ, ARH, ARQ or VRQ.

If you currently have rams with these genotypes, please consider approaching your Breed Society to see if they will nominate them to the Semen Archive Management Board (SAMB) as possible semen donors. Your Breed Society will have contact details for the secretary of the SAMB. (For more about SAMB and the Ram Semen Archive, click here)

If you have received NSP Slaughter Forms for animals that you wish to be considered for the Semen Archive

For any Type 4 or Type 5 rams that have been served with NSP7 Slaughter Forms, you will need to complete and return the form to NSPAC, requesting a suspension of slaughter/castration pending consideration of the ram as a semen donor for the archive.

If you have any questions about any of the above, please telephone the NSP Helpline.

NSP Helpline: 0845 601 4858
Calls charged at local rates

Procedures for Nomination of Rams to the Archive

The aim and purpose of the archive is to (1) enable us to recover the genetics of rams removed through NSP should we ever need to do so in the future, and (2) to be able to reinstate a particular allele if necessary. The success of the initiative will depend upon the support from breed societies and individual breeders identifying and supplying donor rams.

The SAMB (Semen Archive Management Board) has a set of criteria for identifying breeds which are appropriate for submission into the archive. The main focus of the archive will be upon native British and mainstream breeds, i.e. those breeds that have their main genetic base within the UK, and British rare breeds (preservation of the scrapie susceptible genes of exotic rare breeds will be the responsibility of the competent authority in countries with their main genetic base, i.e. they are not considered to be the responsibility of the UK tax payer).

Your breed is therefore invited by the SAMB to put rams forward for entry into the archive. We are currently recommending that your breed has 100 straws collected per ram selected.

We hope to make the ram selection procedure as simple and straightforward as possible. To that end SAMB has set out the following information to assist your Breed Society with ram selection:-

1) Interim Selection Guidelines

Please note: Selection guidelines may be subject to further development based on scientific information provided to the Board and any future changes to the NSP.

• Breeds are encouraged to select 20 rams that carry an appropriate (susceptible) allele that is currently subject to breeding restrictions or culling requirements under the NSP/NISP.
• According to the current NSP/NISP rules this will mean 20 rams for each of the four scrapie susceptible genotypes - AHQ/xxx, ARH/xxx, ARQ/xxx and VRQ/xxx.
• These rams should be as unrelated as possible to other members of the breed submitted to the archive within that allele group, i.e. avoiding siblings and paternal half-siblings, etc.
• Breed societies should provide where possible some basic genetic information, including parents and grandparents (more if possible) for each ram submitted.

2) Some Current Queries

• If you believe you have rams suitable for the archive which are fertile now, but might not be alive for the next collection season, please make representation to the SAMB as soon as possible - representations will be assessed as fairly as possible on an individual basis. Some reimbursement for collection/storage from these rams will be provided, which may be less than an individual would currently pay.
  However, the SAMB's preference would be to encourage you to keep the ram/s alive until the next collection season. If collection must take place now, the recommended method is for straws only.
• In the second instance, if you already have semen stored in pellet form, which you wish to be considered for the archive, please make representation to the SAMB. Until the archive is in place, storage of the pellets will be at the expense of the breeder/breed society. However, reimbursement, which may be less than an individual would currently pay, will be provided.

For further information please contact the SAMB Secretariat on 01684 892661, email: samb@nationalsheep.org.uk. They will pass your comments, representations, etc. on to the Board and will try to assist in whatever way they can. For more on the SAMB and Ram Semen Archive, click here.

All representations concerning rams put forward for consideration for the archive should be made to the Secretariat and not directly to SAMB Members.

Peter Baber, Chairman, Semen Archive Management Board

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Semen Archive for UK Rams - NSA support for industry initiative

The ability to genotype test rams and identify those that can confer scrapie resistance to their offspring has been around since the mid 1990s and formed the basis of a number of breed society breeding schemes. More recently wide-ranging Governmental initiatives have been launched to encourage more breeders to select scrapie resistant breeding stock. Foremost among these has been the National Scrapie Plan for Great Britain launched in 2001 (augmented this year by a Northern Ireland Scrapie Plan).

While the rationale behind these schemes is broadly welcomed by the sheep industry many breeders have been voicing concerns that valuable breeding traits may be lost through the slaughter of non-resistant rams.

Consequently, the Departments consulted with industry, and other stake-holders, earlier this year on proposals to establish an archive of genetic material (semen) from rams of scrapie susceptible genotypes that, over time, will be bred out of the national flock. The aim is to give more breeders the confidence to join their genotyping schemes as it should provide the means for reintroducing populations of the 'lost' genotypes should such a need arise in future.

A Management Board has been created to set up and run the archive on behalf of the Departments. It consists of members of the NSA, along with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST), The Sheep Trust and Departmental representatives. (See table below).

The Board has already discussed a range of issues relating to how the archive should operate and timing. On the latter point, it is unlikely that an Archive service provider will be contracted before February 2004, past the ideal season for collecting semen from most rams. Consequently, the Board is anxious that breeders and breed societies should be actively identifying and retaining suitable rams for semen collection in the next breeding season.

Breed Societies will be asked to nominate rams of the required genotypes to the Board, who will make the final selection. Originally the intention was to focus on the selection of homozygous susceptible ram genotypes. The Board has however decided to open up the selection criteria to heterozygous genotypes because it believes that it may be too difficult to find enough homozygous rams in some breeds.

In principle, from each breed, the Board will be looking for at least 20 rams having AHQ as one of the alleles (i.e. AHQ/xxx), 20 having ARH (i.e. ARH/xxx), 20 having ARQ (i.e. ARQ/xxx) and 20 having VRQ (i.e. VRQ/xxx).

This could mean up to 80 rams being nominated by many Breed Societies. However, some breeds will be unable to source rams from all the categories simply because some breeds do not carry all the susceptible alleles. As there will be a finite limit on numbers of rams that semen can be stored from, it will be the Breed Society's decision on which rams to use. The required numbers should largely be found from NSP Type 3s, 4s, and 5s but some breeds might only have access to some of these alleles through Type 2 rams. Wherever possible the rams should not be closely related. Also, some breeds may decide to look outside of NSP/NISP flocks to find the numbers.

Ram Selection - what to do;

If you think you own a Type 4 or 5 ram suitable to collect semen from for the archive and your flock is in the NSP/NISP you should telephone the NSP Helpline on 0845 601 4858 or the NISP on 028 9052 5228 to gain a temporary exemption from the current slaughter requirements. (Type 3 rams do not have to be culled before the restriction date on their genotype certificates).

You should then contact your breed society to discuss if they will nominate your Type 3, 4, or 5 ram for the archive. Each breed society will decide any additional criteria, other than genotypes, that they wish to use to select the rams they nominate. If your flock is not in the NSP or NISP (i.e. is not subject to culling requirements) you will still need to contact the breed society responsible for your breed.

The success of this initiative will hinge on the support of individual breeders identifying and supplying donor rams. The Board will write to Breed Societies soon to advise them of procedures for nomination of rams to the Board. In the meantime if you wish to discuss any issues concerning the archive the contact details for farming representatives of the Management Board are reproduced below:

England
Alan Alderson Tel. 01768 341397; e-mail: aa.samb@nationalsheep.demon.co.uk
Barras Farm, Barras Kirby Stephen, Cumbria. CA17 4ET
Northern Ireland:
Edward Adamson Tel: 02893 366225; e-mail: ea.samb@nationalsheep.demon.co.uk
6 Fort Road, Kilroot, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim. BT38 9BS
Scotland:
George Milne Tel: 01334 472403; e-mail: gmilne@eidosnet.co.uk
Kinaldy, St. Andrews, Fife. KY16 8NA
Wales:
Don Wrench Tel: 01352 770281; e-mail: dw.samb@nationalsheep.demon.co.uk
Cae-Hic, Treuddyn, Mold, Clwyd. CH7 4NS

Source: Sheep Farmer

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DEFRA NSP/NSIP Semen Archive

DEFRA have given the go-ahead for the establishment of an archive of genetic material - semen - from scrapie susceptible sheep.

The National Scrapie Plan for Great Britain and Northern Ireland means that in due time sheep with susceptible genes will be bred out of the UK national flock. The facility to re-establish viable populations of these sheep in the future should the need arise must be there. For example a new disease agent might emerge that was able to affect scrapie resistant genotypes. This archive was an NSA and industry request from the earliest discussions and we hope that its existence will give all breeders the confidence to join the NSP scheme.

A new Management Board will run the scheme and NSA will be represented. The new Board will play a crucial role in providing advice on a wide range of matters including

• Collection standards,
• Health status of donor rams,
• Acceptable donor rams,
• Availability of certain genotypes,
• Specific breed requirements and
• Quality control and assurance.

We must identify good quality rams with susceptible genotypes. These would be rams that members would ordinarily not be able to breed from under the terms of the NSP scheme.

Semen will be archived from 20 unrelated rams in each breed of each of the susceptible homozygous genotypes, i.e. those with two copies of the same allele : VRQ/VRQ, AHQ/AHQ, ARH/ARH, and ARQ/ARQ. There may be others that might be required. It is intended that rams will be from those breeders participating in the NSP scheme. Payment will be made for the transporting of rams to and from the collection facility. No payment will be made for retaining these rams until the archive is ready

The NSA feel that it is important for all breed societies to take steps to raise the profile of this archive with members and to start work to identify suitable donor animals and establishing the criteria for their selection within the breed.

Further information will be published in due course.

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Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme

Guidance for Farmers on EU wide measures (EU Commission Regulation 1915/2003) on scrapie affected flocks to be enforced by the draft TSE (Amendment) Regulations (England) 2004.

What is the purpose of the Regulations?
The Regulations implement Commission Regulation 1915/2003 that introduces EU wide measures to eradicate scrapie from farms that have a confirmed case of scrapie. The Regulations only apply to cases reported after the enforceable date - expected to be July 2004.

The aim of the Regulation is to eradicate scrapie from scrapie affected flocks by culling animals that have susceptible genotypes and by breeding for resistance using animals with the most resistant genotypes - information on scrapie genotypes is available at www.defra.gov.uk/nsp.

Who will be affected by the Regulations?
The measures will affect sheep and goat farmers who have flocks/herds in which scrapie is confirmed. They will also affect sheep and goat farmers where confirmed cases, which are identified at other premises, can be traced without doubt to a farm of origin. Where there is more than one flock on a holding or the infected flock runs on common land a State Veterinary Service (SVS) Veterinary Adviser (VA) will use epidemiological evidence to decide to which flocks the measures apply.

What are the benefits of the Regulations for my business?
Your business will benefit by:

• reducing the risk that scrapie might re-occur by establishing a resistant flock
• ultimately increasing the value of your flock by selective breeding for scrapie resistant genotypes
• identifying breeding sheep of the ARR/ARR genotype (the most resistant genotype) that can be exported to other Member States, regardless of any recent occurrence of scrapie on your farm.

What do I do if I suspect a case of scrapie?
Scrapie is a notifiable disease. If you suspect that one of your sheep or goats is affected by scrapie, you must report this to your local Animal Health Division Office. You may also wish to inform your private Veterinary Surgeon. The suspect animal will be subject to examination by a Veterinary Officer (VO) from the SVS in the first instance. If the suspicion of scrapie cannot be ruled out, the animal will be taken for compulsory slaughter and laboratory analysis to confirm whether scrapie is present. You will be compensated for the loss of the culled animal regardless of the result.

What happens if it is confirmed?
Your holding will become subject to the EU measures and registered with the National Scrapie Plan Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme (CSFS). An SVS VO will visit your holding to identify all the sheep and goats on the holding and any sheep or goat embryos or ova which you have in store.

culling and destruction of the carcases of all the sheep (except any already genotyped rams and ewes of suitable genotypes) in the affected flock/s, and you may

» leave the holding free from sheep for three years then restart your business without restriction, or,
» restock immediately with the required resistant breeding sheep and be subject to certain restrictions outlined below.

genotyping all the sheep in the affected flock with only those sheep with the required resistant genotypes being retained for use on the holding. The others will be culled and the carcases destroyed or slaughtered for the food chain, depending on their genotype.

Defra are currently covering the cost of each of the above options and compensation will be paid at the rates shown below.

Then there are certain restrictions on what you can do

• You will be restricted in what animals you use for breeding, bring on to and send from your holding
• Animals will only move from the holding to which the measures apply under licence.
• The restrictions will apply for three years, starting from the date you have only sheep of the required resistant genotypes on your holding.
• A sample of culled and all fallen stock over 18 months will be TSE tested during this three year peiod.

What happens in the case of goats?

• All the goats will be culled and the carcases destroyed
• You can restock following cleaning and disinfecting of all animal housing on holding
• However, any sheep retained or brought on to the holding must be of the required resistant genotype
• All culled and fallen stock over 18 months will be TSE tested for a three year period from date of restocking.

Are there any exceptions to when measures apply for either sheep or goats?

If,

• your flock is a rare breed or you may have difficulty in finding enough replacement animals to allow you to continue in business, you may be allowed to delay the destruction of susceptible animals for up to three breeding years or be allowed to bring animals that are less scrapie resistant on to the affected holding, or
• a veterinary assessment shows there is clear epidemiological separation from any affected sheep flock on your holding, your goat herd may be exempt from whole herd culling and vice versa

Will I be compensated?
Compensation will be paid for animals, embryos and ova culled and destroyed. Compensation Rates are: Adult sheep/goats £90; Lambs/kids £50 (£25 for lambs if derogation granted); Cull Ewes/female goats £30; Embryos £150; Ova up to maximum of £5 (if it can be shown there is a market for them). Compensation for high value animals will be based on an independent valuation at the owner's expense.

Also, NSPAC will arrange with you the free collection and disposal of sheep and goats to be culled and the carcases destroyed. You will be given financial and genotyping help to find resistant sheep to replace susceptible breeding stock.

Where can I find out more about the National Scrapie Plan Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme?
You can telephone the NSP helpline on 0845 601 4858, local rate charges apply. The internet link is www.defra.gov.uk/nsp

How will the Regulations be enforced?
The SVS will carry out spot checks on animals on scrapie affected holdings and on animals from these holdings at abattoirs. It is an offence punishable by a fine or up to two years imprisonment if you fail to comply with the measures set out in the legislation.

DEFRA, 4 May 2004

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TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS FOR RARE BREEDS OF SHEEP PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL SCRAPIE PLAN (DEFRA News Release, 11th July, 2003)

Animal Health Minister Ben Bradshaw announced today changes that will enable keepers of recognised rare breeds of sheep participating in the voluntary National Scrapie Plan to put off, should they wish to do so, the required slaughter of their most TSE susceptible breeding rams pending the outcomes of further Defra funded research.

The temporary changes follow the completion of a NSP survey, undertaken in conjunction with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, to establish TSE resistant and susceptible genotype frequencies and distribution levels in those rare breeds recognised by the Trust.

Announcing the changes, Mr Bradshaw said:

"While the NSP \ RBST genotype survey indicates that the application of genotype based breeding strategies may be appropriate for some rare breeds and clearly not for others, the results are nonetheless far from conclusive in the case of a number of these breeds. The impact of breeding constraints on the small genetic pool within these breeds needs to be carefully evaluated. Furthermore the extension will allow owners and societies to store genetic material from these animals."

"In recognition of this and of the genetic importance of our native rare breeds, we have commissioned a further, more detailed study. Analysis of this data should assist us in the development of appropriate longer term strategies for rare breeds.

"As a temporary and interim measure therefore, I have concluded in conjunction with Rural Affairs Ministers from Scotland and Wales that 'appeals' under existing NSP Scheme rules against the slaughter requirement for TSE susceptible VRQ rams will be automatically accepted from keepers of recognised rare breeds. The slaughter date will be set at 1 August 2004, giving us ample time to evaluate the research and consult on the way forward. In the meantime however, VRQ rare breed rams benefiting from this extension will not be permitted to breed as part of the NSP".

Since the National Scrapie Plan was launched in July 2001 about 563,846 sheep have been genotyped. So far, the NSP Administration Centre at Worcester has accepted 8,200 members into the NSP, of which 1,341 are keepers of currently recognised rare breeds of sheep.

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Rare Breeds Survival Trust

GOVERNMENT GIVES BOOST TO THE FUTURE OF UK'S RAREST SHEEP

The work of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in conserving the UK's most endangered breeds of farm animals is being recognised by DEFRA and the National Scrapie Plan (NSP).

The Government department has announced that 27 of the most vulnerable breeds of sheep, as recognised by the RBST, will be allowed temporary exemption from breeding restrictions enforced to eradicate Scrapie.

Scrapie is a fatal neurological disease which affects sheep. The National Scrapie plan for Great Britain involves a voluntary, long term programme of breeding for genetic resistance. It encourages participating flock owners to breed from, and use, scrapie resistant sheep.

DEFRA has made two significant moves to secure the future of the 27 endangered breeds. Animal Health Minister, Ben Bradshaw, has confirmed that following the provision of funding granted to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and the University of Wales to research the impact of the National Scrapie Plan on rare breeds, owners of rare breeds have also been given the opportunity to 'opt-out' of breeding restrictions until 2004, when it is expected the research will be complete.

The study will be used to inform government policy on eradicating Scrapie -- and to assess the impact the NSP will have on the future of rare breeds of sheep.

Chief Executive of the Trust, Rosemary Mansbridge said "We welcome this very important move by the Government to protect the future of rare breeds. Many rare breed populations are already reduced -- to the extent that any further breeding restrictions could prove catastrophic. As the Trust enters it 30th year, it is heartening to have Government recognition for our conservation activities."

Since the Trust's formation in 1973 no breeds have died out, though before then some 20 had been lost for ever. Its 'endangered' list now consists of 73 breeds of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses, ponies and poultry, including some of Britain's most famous traditional breeds such as the Dartmoor pony, the Suffolk heavy horse, the Tamworth pig and the Irish Moiled cattle. In some cases, fewer than 100 examples of individuals within a breed survive.

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NATIONAL SCRAPIE SCHEME RAM REGISTER
can be found on http://nspflockregister.defra.gov.uk/

This contains details of every ram tested under the NSP with resistant genotypes. Everyone has access and it allows potential buyers to search for rams of a particular breed and genotpye.

It displays SOUTHDOWN rams and gives the owner's name, address and telephone number and e-mail address if they have one. You can also search by region. Owners are listed alphabetically, but not necessarily by surname. If DEFRA have been given any initials, the first initial is the letter under which the name is listed. For example P. Brown would be found under 'P' and not under 'B'. Also, if they have been given a name with Mr. or Messrs. or Mrs. or Ms., the listing will be found under 'M'. This is something to bear in mind if you cannot find the name you are looking for.

If NSP members do not have access to the internet they can ring the NSP at 0845 601 4858 ( local rates apply) Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 5 pm. They will search for you and send in the post a paper copy.

Remember the accuracy of the Ram Register is dependant on NSP members notifying sheep sales and disposals.

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SCRAPIE GENOTYPING AND THE NATIONAL SCRAPIE PLAN; WHAT THEY ARE, HOW THEY AFFECT YOU AND HOW TO USE THEM TO YOUR BEST ADVANTAGE

• Scrapie genotyping is a blood test which identifies whether sheep are resistant or susceptible to scrapie. It does not indicate whether a sheep is infected with scrapie.
  
• Scrapie genotypes, expressed in the form of a six letter code, enable breeders to make informed decisions about their future breeding policies and help to breed sheep resistant to scrapie.
  
• Scrapie genotypes are easy to understand and follow the simple theory of heredity. Scrapie resistant sheep confer a level of resistance to their offspring depending on their mating.
  
• a) Mating two fully resistant sheep with each other results in fully resistant offspring.
  b) Mating a fully resistant sheep with a semi-resistant sheep results in some fully resistant offspring and some semi-resistant offspring.
  c) Mating a fully resistant sheep with a susceptible sheep results in semi-resistant offspring.
  d) Mating two semi-resistant sheep results in some fully resistant offspring, some semi-resistant offspring and some susceptible offspring.
  e) Mating two susceptible sheep results in susceptible offspring.
  
• Scrapie resistant sheep of all breeds are already commanding premiums in both pedigree and commercial breeding sales. This trend will continue as UK and EU policy moves towards excluding non-resistant sheep from the human food chain.
  
• 62% of all Southdown sheep genotyped by the National Scrapie Plan to date are of fully or semi-resistant genotypes. As a breed we have little to fear from the National Scrapie Plan or breeding up to more scrapie resistant status, so long as care is taken when selecting breeding stock and breed characteristics are not lost along the way.
  
• The National Scrapie Plan is a government funded and internationally recognised initiative which provides free scrapie genotyping to purebred flocks in England, Wales and Scotland.
  

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Extra Ewe Genotyping Available

A letter from the NSPCA, Defra, dated February, 2003, and headed National Scrapie Plan (NSP) for Great Britain - Extra Ewe Genotyping Available:

We wrote to you in November 2002 informing you of the NSP Ewe Genotyping Service (EGS). The service was introduced to help speed up the process of breeding towards scrapie resistance within individual flocks, by enabling breeders to select their more resistant female sheep from which to breed resistant rams and replacement ewes.

Uptake so far has been excellent and many breeders are already planning how to use their ewe genotype results to produce a more scrapie resistant lamb crop from the next breeding season.

You will recall that the EGS offers genotype testing of samples collected from your ewes by your own vet. The cost of the vet visiting and collecting the samples is the only part you will have to pay for; the postage, testing, and the issue of results are free, paid for by the NSP.

We currently have capacity available to genotype test ewes between mid-February and the end of March, 2003. What's more, the limit on the maximum number of ewes you can have tested has been removed (subject to availability).

All you have to do to take advantage of the EGS is to complete and return your EGS Application Form (NSP22) by 14th March, 2003. Contact the NSP Helpline - 0845 601 4858 - if you need further information or a replacement form. You can also view the information booklet (NSP23) in the Publications and Reports section of the NSP's web pages - http://www.defra.gov.uk/nsp/PublicatsRpts/publicatRpts.htm

Welsh Ewe Genotyping Scheme II (WEGS II)

Our Welsh members may have heard of the Welsh Assembly's WEGS II initiative, which is currently undergoing public consultation. The advice to NSP members in Wales is that you may like to take advantage of the standard NSP EGS for your shearling and older ewes and then have your ewe lambs tested under WEGS II later in the year, before you select your replacements. If you have any queries or would like a copy of the WEGS II consultation paper, please contact Animal Health Division I, Welsh Assembly Government, on 01970 612821 or view it on the NSP web pages - http://www.defra.gov.uk/nsp/whatsnew.htm. (Note: Adobe Acrobat is required to read it)

We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity. As always please contact the NSP Helpline - 0845 601 4858 - if you have any difficulties or queries.

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NATIONAL SCRAPIE PLAN - Southdown Update

July 2003

The National Scrapie Plan (NSP) is now into its second full year of genotyping and so far over 585,000 animals have been tested.

The Southdown breeders who have joined the NSP are already playing their part in increasing the breed's resistance to scrapie. To date more than 3,500 Southdown animals have been tested under the NSP. Results so far have shown that over 62% of the animals tested are of the more resistant genotypes.

Some Southdown breeders took part in the Rare Breeds Genotype Survey during 2002. The NSP are now working in partnership with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust to analyse the results from this initiative. Whilst this study is being undertaken there will be a change in policy for all Southdown members of the Ram Genotyping Scheme. All members should now have received literature explaining the changes.

Southdown breeders who want more information about the initiatives run by the National Scrapie Plan, or who wish to complete an Expression of Interest form should contact the NSP Helpline on 0845 601 4858 (local rates apply). Lines are open from 8.30 am - 5.00 pm, Monday-Friday. Alternatively, visit the website at www.defra.gov.uk/nsp.

Click here to see histogram of Southdown results as at 17 January 2005.

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Scrapie Genotypes in Rare Sheep Breeds

During 2002, the Rare Breeds Genotype Survey was undertaken as part of the National Scrapie Plan (NSP). The survey was commissioned by Defra in association with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) and its aim was to assess the genetic resistance or susceptibility of breeds represented by the Trust. To achieve this aim, rare breed keepers were offered free genotype testing of their flocks without any restrictions being placed on the sale or breeding of their sheep.

Blood sampling visits for the survey took place throughout the Spring and Autumn of 2002, with as many samples as possible being collected from both males and females within a one-day visit. In many cases this meant that the whole flock was sampled.

In addition, other flocks of rare breeds of sheep were sampled as participating members of the NSP Ram Genotyping Schemes.

Rare Breeds Genotype Survey

• 696 rare breed flocks blood sampled
• almost 19,000 sheep genotype tested

Ram Genotyping Schemes (to Feb '03)

• 491 rare breed flocks blood sampled
• almost 13,000 sheep genotype tested

Results

The results of combined genotype testing of rare breeds under the NSP Rare Breeds Genotype Survey and Ram Genotyping Schemes are included in the tables below, providing for the first time an insight into the degree of scrapie resistance found in rare breeds.

The Tables can be seen on Acrobat Reader at http://www.defra.gov.uk/nsp/PublicatsRpts/rbsleaflet.pdf

Table 1
Percentage of genotypes found in each breed from the sheep tested under the Rare Breeds Genotype Survey and Ram Genotyping Schemes.

Table 2
Percentage of alleles found in each breed from the sheep tested under the Rare Breeds Genotype Survey and Ram Genotyping Schemes.

The Future for Genotyping in Rare Breeds
Working in partnership with the RBST, the rare breed genotype data collected from all the NSP rate breeds' genotyping is undergoing detailed analysis. The outcome of this analysis will help to inform future scrapie control strategies for rare breeds in Great Britain.

All keepers of rare breed flocks should bear in mind the development of these control strategies when making breeding decisions in the meantime.

How to predict the genetic makeup of lambs from putting rams of a certain genotype to ewes of a certain genotype can be found in .pdf format (Acrobat Reader) by clicking here:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/bse-science/scrapie/ nsp/Tables/predicting.pdf and the Genotype Calculator Grid can be found in the same format by clicking here
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/bse-science/scrapie/nsp/Tables/calculatorgrid.pdf

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National Scrapie Plan For Great Britain Now Offering Even More Free Testing! For a limited time only, the National Scrapie Plan (NSP) for Great Britain is offering extra free genotype tests to its members in the form of a Ewe Genotyping Service (EGS) - in addition to the usual ram genotyping programme. This now means that members could enjoy more than 40 rams and 60 ewes tested this year alone, allowing much easier selection for breeding for resistance to scrapie. Even if you are not yet an NSP member, you still have time to benefit. The extra testing is available to all new members who sign up before March 2003! The NSP Ewe Genotyping Service (EGS) This time-limited service is available until April 2003 to all current members of the NSP Ram Genotyping Schemes and those who sign up before March 2003. The service offers free genotype testing for up to 60 ewes from samples collected by a private vet. There is flexibility for more ewes to be tested in larger flocks, all on top of the normal NSP ram testing. This will help breeders to select their more resistant ewes from which to breed the most resistant tups, while maintaining important breed traits. Call the NSP Helpline for an EGS Application Form and Information Booklet. Not yet an NSP member? Quite simply, the earlier you join, the more you will benefit - especially while the EGS is available to new members. All purebred flocks are eligible and the NSP offers an initial three year programme of free genotype testing in return for agreeing to the rules for breeding for genetic resistance to scrapie. Call the NSP Helpline for more information or to fill out an application over the phone. If you need any further information, or would like to join the NSP then please call the NSP Helpline. NSP Helpline: 0845 601 4858 Calls charged at local rate

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Material Copyright © 2002 The Southdown Sheep Society.