Icelandic goat population faces critical threat as farmers seek genetic protection against scrapie

The Icelandic goat is critically endangered, with its population dwindling to approximately 2,000 individuals. Farmers are seeking protective genetic traits to help combat the spread of a disease known as scrapie, which has yet to manifest in the goat population. In previous years, 220 goats were genetically tested to assess their resilience to this disease, but protective traits have only been identified in sheep, not in goats. Currently, about 10% of the goat population has been genetically sequenced.

Recent culling measures aimed at controlling scrapie in sheep have also affected goat populations. Farmers express concern about the necessity of these actions, as there have been no known cases of scrapie in Icelandic goats. However, the small size of the goat population means that any culling—even if minimal—creates a significant impact.

The government has a responsibility to protect this vulnerable breed. Samples from the goats are being analyzed in France due to the perceived limited scale of the project, as the Icelandic Genetic Research Institute considers it too small to undertake. The cost of genetic analyses for goats is higher than for sheep, but there are fewer goat farmers seeking assistance from the government, who are hopeful for support in their plight.

There is a glimmer of hope, as protective traits have been found in the Norwegian goat, a close relative of the Icelandic goat. With around 2,000 animals currently, experts believe the population would require 3,500 females to diminish the risk of extinction. Encouragingly, the population is increasing by approximately 100 to 150 goats each year, marking a positive trend for this endangered breed.