Additional grand funds will help sheep producers reduce the cost of testing for scrapie resistance in their herds, according to officials at the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

“Since we began this program in September 2003, it has been extremely successful,” said Wayne Cunningham, state veterinarian at the Colorado Department of Agriculture. “Scrapie costs the sheep and goat industries between $20-25 million per year, but resistance to the disease can be determined by a genetic test.”

The grant, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will help reduce the testing cost for rams and ewe lambs. About 30 meetings are planned across the state to help educate livestock owners.

Normally, the Rocky Mountain Regional Animal Health Lab performs this test for $13.75 for the first 10 samples and $11 per additional animal. Through one of the provisions of the federal grant, the cost is reduced for the producer to $6.88 for the first 10 head tested and $5.50 for each additional animal.

The guidelines of the grant require producers who want to participate in the program to have all sheep tagged with an official premise identification tag.

Premise identification tags are available by calling toll free (866) USDA-TAG.