1. Always make sure any treatment you give is fully effective.
SCOPS is an industry led group that works in the interest of the UK sheep industry. It recognises that, left unchecked, anthelmintic resistance is one of the biggest challenges to the future health and profitability of the sector.
The SCOPS group was formed to develop sustainable strategies for parasite control in sheep, facilitate and oversee the delivery of these recommendations to the industry and ensure that new research and development is incorporated to refine and improve advice given to the sheep industry.
SCOPS includes representatives from a wide range of industry organisations – logos and links are below. The equivalent organisation for cattle is the Control Of Worms Sustainably (COWS).
SCOPS is urging sheep farmers to start using FECs (Faecal Egg Counts) to monitor the worm challenge in their flocks. The very warm weather at in mid April saw levels in the west rise rapidly in early May. Now that the east has had rain, levels are rising here too. With warmer weather forecast the worm challenge is likely to increase in the coming weeks. FECs will help determine the need to treat - ask your vet or SQP for details and advice on what product to use. Remember to test to see if your wormer has worked a effectively.
Click here for details Testing for resistance.
A list of product choices can be found here.
13th May 2019 Read MoreHill and Upland areas are now seeing high risk red and black dots on the SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast. A rapid rise in temperatures forecast this coming week could see a signifcant hatch, so farmers in these areas with early April born lambs need to be vigilant and prepared to take action. While the risk in lowland areas is now generally waning, later born lambs on north facing / colder fields may still be at risk. Click on the map for the forecast itself and click here for how to assess risk and what action to take
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