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).
Spring is as busy a time of year for parasites as it is for sheep farmers. SCOPS has therefore provided two important tools for producers to use over the coming weeks and months:-
Into the second week of April with numbers of red and black dots on the SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast map now rising rapidly - be prepared to take action in these areas!
The SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast predicts the hatch date for nematodirus based on temperature data from 140 weather stations around the UK. combination with on-farm grazing information, this provides a valuable tool to help farmers, vets and advisors protect lambs from the threat of disease. The risk has come much earlier this year and SCOPS is urging everyone in the sheep sector to be on their guard.
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