We are trasporting goats from Colorado through Utah and have heard that you may have to have papers saying that your goats don't have certain diseases. I couldn't find anything on the Utah state web site about it and haven't had a chance to call the UDOT yet. We are leaving on Wednesday and have very little time for a vet visit!! I hope that someone has traveled through Utah and can help me with this! Thanks so much! Pam

-- Pam in Oregon (pamburbank@msn.com), February 24, 2002

Answers

As part of the Scrapie Eradification program, all sheep and goats traveling across state lines will need to have a APHIS ( federal animal plant health inspecton service) eartag and the proper paperwork from a vet stating they are free of scrapie, hoofrot and parrotmouth. To get the eartags you need to contact your state veterinary dept. for a form and then you have to apply for a farm ID number before they send the tags. Your vet should give you that contact info. I understand that some of the goat association tatoos will be allowed as an alternative to the tags. This was all put into place last fall to help keep BSE ( mad cow disease) out of this country. Sorry, but this is not going to be a quick process. I applied for the tags and my farm ID number 5 weeks ago and am still waiting! Also all this will be mandatory in state at any fairs or shows. I think Vicky could shed more light on this requirement with the goats. Kate

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), February 24, 2002.

I had the one USDA website bookmarked but it must have been on my computer that crashed. I know that you cannot transport any goat anywhere unless you comply with scrapie regs. You will need to contact your st vet for further information or department of agriculture. Also needed for transport are TB and Burcellosis. when we moved the herd to AR we were told that TB wasn't necessary as they were a free state, I wasn't taking any chances. Do you have your scrapie tags? If not you better expedite the situation or else run the risk of maybe getting stopped and then in a bigger mess. Wish I had more optimistic news. if you can get the vet out tomorrow, your TB should be ready by Wed. You also ned health papers as well, keep those in your glove box or with the driver at all times.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), February 24, 2002.

rkeener@realtime.net This is Ron Keener's email, he hauls for me, and just came through their. Scrapie tags aren't being read until April 1st. All I really do know is that you do not want to go in our out of Michigan. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 24, 2002.

Anytime you take animals from one state into another you typically need a health certificate and/or TB or Brucellosis testing. Here is the site that lists requirements: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/sregs/ (This does not include the new scrapies regulations). The requirements are for the final state were they will be living, are you going through Utah or is that were you live? If it is where the goats will be leaving it appears that besides the health certificate a TB and Brucellosis test is required. TB has to be done and then read 3 days later and Brucellosis has to be sent in. It usually takes me a week to get both bloodwork tests done and health certificates and that is if the paperwork is rushed through. If you live in Oregon and that is were the animals will be living it looks like just a health certificate. It doesn't matter what states you will be passing through (that I know of), just were the animals will end up being. Look up that state and check the regs, and it is always a good idea to call and confirm as some of their websites are not updated.

-- Leslie in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), February 25, 2002.

Pam, we brought goats with us up from Texas to Colorado last spring, and worried about the carry-through states. When I called the state vets, I was told that as long as my goats were staying on the trailer, I only needed to worry about regulations for point-of- destination. Your local vet should be able to give you the number for the Utah State Vet. Call them and ask what is required; they are the ones who should know.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), February 25, 2002.