However, it has become more frequent that I am asked how I keep track of the bloodlines of my ewe lambs, who sired them, and how to avoid inbreeding. I never felt compelled to share this system because it is indeed a bit cumbersome. I developed a tagging system with color codes and number codes. While a burden to many, using ear tags became a blessing in disguise for me. Because returning customers need new bloodlines on their way forward, using ear tags became a necessity. Since the inception of these mandatory scrapie tags, I started selling a lot of breeding stock. So, I got creative with these ear tags, the available colors, and the numbers to trace animals and bloodlines. However, if life gives you lemons, I figured I might as well make lemonade. The link at the end of the article describes this mandatory program, which includes a factsheet. The idea behind the program is to trace animals that are tested and are determined to be affected with Scrapie back to its owners. The tags have consecutive numbers when these sheep are older than 18 months and leave the farm, or for lambs and sheep of any age when they go across state borders. In its effort to do so, it became law in the United States that you must get a premise ID number for your sheep farm and tag your sheep with scrapie-approved ear tags. The USDA decided years ago to combat Scrapie, a disease similar to Mad Cow Disease that affects sheep and goats. His daughter in the picture was born in 2017 as the 7000 number will tell me. All daughters of White Dorper ram #88 “Paul” have spearmint-colored ear tags.
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