March 28, 2001
		Second Flock of Vermont Sheep Seized for Mad Cow Threat A second flock of Vermont sheep was seized by U.S. federal agents on March 24, after a long court battle with the flock's owners, Larry and Linda Faillace. The government was concerned that the sheep and their offspring may have been exposed to mad cow disease through contaminated feed before they were imported from Europe in 1996. They were dairy sheep, used for making cheese. Another flock of milking sheep was seized earlier in the week because of the same concerns. "This is very difficult for them," USDA spokesman Ed Curlette said. "This is very difficult for us as well. However, it is our mission to protect American agriculture." The Faillace's 126 sheep were loaded into a truck bound for Iowa, where they will be destroyed and their brains will be tested for evidence of mad cow disease. The sheep had been in quarantine since 1998.