Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme
The Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme (CSFS) implements in Northern Ireland and Great Britain the EU requirements following confirmation of scrapie in a flock.
Confirmation of scrapie can arise from either notification of suspect cases or through the Department’s active TSE Surveillance programme. Under the CSFS two options are available for the Department – i.e. genotyping of the flock and selective culling of susceptible sheep or whole flock culling without genotyping.
The EU requirements were introduced in NI on 4 October 2004. Details are as follows –
- Movement restrictions are placed on the flock for 2 years.
- Department option of either genotyping of the whole flock and slaughter of scrapie susceptible sheep (i.e. all sheep except ARR/ARR rams and ARR/XXX ewes (except ARR/VRQ ewes) or total flock slaughter with or without genotyping. A DARD Veterinary Officer will visit the farm premises and, following a veterinary assessment, will determine the most appropriate course of action as regards the affected flock.
- Restocking must only take place with the more resistant genotypes.
- TSE surveillance testing is required for the 2-year period, after CSFS measures have been enacted, of all cull sheep and all fallen sheep over 18 months of age at time of death.
Compensation is payable for all sheep removed and slaughtered under the CSFS as follows (irrespective of which option is adopted). The rates of compensation applicable from 13 May 2006 are as follows -
Animal or product
Pure bred sheep or goats - Market value of animal
Ordinary male adult sheep or goats - £90
Ordinary female adult sheep or goats - £65
Ordinary sheep in lamb and ordinary goat in kid - £115
Ordinary lamb (under 12 months old) or ordinary kid (under 12 months old) - £50
Embryo - £150
Ovum - £5
Notes -
“Ordinary” in relation to an animal means that it is not pure bred.
Full details on compensation provisions are contained in the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 No. 406.
Contact Details
For further information on the Notified Scrapie Cases and the Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme, please contact Scrapie Section on (028) 9052 5275.
