This month, I’m trying to learn about the differences between the mandatory and voluntary scrapie identification programs for sheep. The voluntary one is more rigorous, and limits what sheep you can bring into your flock, but it can make your sheep more marketable to others who are also in the voluntary program.
I think I want to go this route, but am not sure if I want to wait, to give myself a little more time to buy breeding animals that don’t come from other voluntary farms. I have a huge packet of information from the state veterinarian’s office that explains everything, but it’ s a lot to wade through! I see that most Katahdin breeders in my state who are members of the national registry association do not participate in the voluntary program. So, it seems it would really limit from whom I could buy sheep if I chose to enroll.
More reading and thinking required!