What is scrapie? Scrapie is a disease that affects the central nervous system of sheep and goats. It is a fatal disease that has no treatment or cure. Additionally, it is one of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), related to mad cow disease, so it is basically the sheep and goat version of mad cow disease. The disease was first recognized 250 years ago. The first case reported in the United States was diagnosed on a farm in Michigan. Scrapie is extremely infectious and contagious under natural conditions and since there is no way to cure it, affected animals are quarantined and then killed. It can spread from the affected ewe to her lamb or to other groups of lambs that come into contact with the placenta. The problem is that it takes years for the affected animal to show signs of scrapie and, by then, the ewe will have had multiple lambs that were also infected. Some signs of scrapie are a change in behavior, as nerve cells are damaged. The animal is constantly scratching itself against something to the point of bleeding and causing injury, loss of coordination, biting its limbs, weight loss, loss of appetite and basically having very abnormal behavior. Why eradicate Scrapie? There are many benefits that come from scrapie eradication. It increases the health of the animals and reduces production loss. The animals will be healthy and will not have to suffer from the horrible disease. Watching the pet go through all the discomfort and pain is reason enough to eradicate scrapie. It will be beneficial for them and the breeder not to have to cull the animal, which could lead to financial losses. Furthermore, the presence of scrapie in the United States also prevents......half of the paper......the producer buys sheep that are free from scrapie, will help eradicate the latest case of scrapie in the United States and only then will he be completely free from the horrible disease. No sheep or goats will have to suffer from the disease that drives them mad and the producer will save money and have a healthy flock that will not have to worry about being susceptible to scrapie. Works cited "Scrapie Information". / / Goats, sheep, small ruminants / Agricultural sector / Animal sector / Divisions and offices / Home. Np, nd Web. March 24, 2014. “Nebraska Department of Agriculture.” Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Np, nd Web. March 24, 2014."Your participation is needed now more than ever to achieve the goal of eradicating scrapie from the United States." National scrapie education initiative. National Scrapie Education Initiative, nd Web. March 24. 2014.