What role do private practitioners play in managing scrapie?

Private practitioners play a significant role in managing scrapie through the utilization of genetic selection for resistance. This disease, a viral infection affecting the nervous system of sheep, can be influenced by the genetic makeup of the animals. By selecting for sheep that carry specific genes associated with resistance to scrapie, practitioners can help reduce the incidence of the disease within flocks.

This approach is particularly important because there are currently no vaccines available for preventing scrapie. Instead, focusing on breeding programs that enhance genetic resistance is a proactive strategy. By prioritizing this genetic selection, private practitioners contribute to long-term herd health and sustainability, reducing the overall impact of scrapie in livestock populations.

In contrast, conducting mandatory inspections, administering vaccines, or reporting sheep sales, while they may be part of broader regulatory frameworks or management practices, do not play the pivotal role of enhancing genetic resistance specific to scrapie. These methods may be involved in overall flock health management but do not address the genetic susceptibility issue directly, making the focus on genetic selection the most effective strategy for managing the disease.