However, scrapie in sheep is frequently transmitted within family lines. This has led some scientists to think a ewe can pass the disease to her lambs, but that has not been proven. Veterinarians diagnose the disease through tissue evaluation in a laboratory. BSE in cattle and scrapie in sheep affect animals more than two years old, according to Haskell. Staggering, falling, partial paralysis, head and neck tremors, lack of coordination, emaciation and weakness are symptoms that affected animals may display.
Intense itch is common in sheep and goats.
It is very important not to feed cattle any protein that comes from a ruminant, such as meat and bone meal. Prevention of spongiform encephalopathies involves testing and destroying sheep and elk. Prevention measures in cattle include not feeding ruminant protein sources, as well as testing animals with symptoms of the disease. The University of Minnesota Extension Service is an equal opportunity educator and employer.