We started the certification process for CAE and scrapie in 2022. We will be able to export to most EU countries: - from now on: all animals with the correct scrapie genotype (SS or SN), when the buyer needs no CAE certified animals - in january 2025: only animals with the correct scrapie genotype (SS or NS), with CAE certification - in october 2025: all animals
Scrapie: - January 2023: Governmental veterinary inspection completed. - Scrapie genotyping performed, see the results at the "Boergeiten" page, above the pictures of each animal
CAE: - January and July 2023: All animals negative for CAE (year 1 inspection complete) - 2-year CAE certification expected January 2025
Para-TBC: - July 2023: all animals tested negative
Background European legislation for import/export of goats is in place to prevent the spread of diseases. Certification is required for 2 important goat diseases in order to allow the import/export of goats in EU.
Scrapie - Certification for controlled (level 1) or negligible (level 2) risk: To obtain scrapie certification it is required to have animals without scrapie for 3 (level 1) or 7 (level 2) consecutive years. This is means the breeder should send the head of each animal which dies at the farm and which is over 18 months to the lab for research. Also the farmer should organise a yearly official governmental veterinary inspection at the farm. Austria, Sweden, Denmark and Finland require a level 2 certification for import. All other EU countries require a level 1 certification.
- Genotyping: Some goats have a genotype which makes them not susceptible for scrapie. Animals with this genotype can be exported/imported. For boer goats this is at codon 146. When at least one S or D mutation is present, the animal is scrapie resistant. In general, scrapie resistance genes are present in the minority of boer goats, so the certification by level 1 and level 2 remains the golden standard.
CAE CAE certification requires a yearly blood sampling of the animals to check for antibodies. All animals need to be negative for CAE.
Very important: Once you start the certification procedure for these diseases, it is no longer allowed to introduce animals in your flock with a lower certification status. - For example: the day the farmer starts the procedure for CAE certification, the farmer can no longer buy a goat from a farmer which is not participating in the CAE certification program. - Of course this doesn't work in the opposite way: animals of a farmer participating in the CAE certification program can be sold to a farmer without the CAE certification. When introduced to the new flock, the animal will lose its CAE-free status as it was in contact with animals which were not tested for CAE.