Scrapie is a fatal prion disease of sheep causing neurological deterioration and significant suffering, with genetic resistance programmes offering a path to eradication.
Scrapie causes prolonged suffering over a disease course that can span many months. The intense pruritus (itching) leads to self-trauma from rubbing against fences and posts — creating wounds that become infected. Progressive neurological deterioration causes coordination loss, making normal movement painful and difficult. Weight loss and muscle wasting compound the suffering. Because scrapie has a long incubation period, farmers may unknowingly maintain infected stock for years before clinical signs appear. Genetic resistance programmes offer a genuine path to reducing scrapie prevalence without chemical or vaccine interventions — selection for ARR/ARR genotype rams rapidly shifts flock genetics toward resistance, providing a long-term welfare and biosecurity benefit.