Technical Manual

Chapter 2. SCOPS Principles

The SCOPS principles are designed to help slow the development on sheep farms. They are based on three main drivers for resistance:

The frequency of anthelmintic use on a farm - every treatment selects for any resistant parasites present in the animal.
The efficacy of each treatment – the accuracy of the dose and application, together with the level of resistance present to that product.
The proportion of the total worm population in the animal at the time of treatment and how quickly any surviving parasites are diluted with unselected parasites in refugia of each treatment.

2.1 Administer Effectively

Administer anthelmintics effectively

2.2 Preserve Susceptible Worms

Preserve susceptible worms

2.3 Quarantine

2.3.1 Quarantine treatments for liver fluke

2.3.2 Quarantine procedures and treatments

2.4 Reduce Dependence

2.4.1 Strategies for lambs

2.4.2 Pasture based assessments

2.4.3 Breeding for resistance

2.4.4 Forages with anthelmintic properties

2.5 Select Right Product

Selecting the most appropriate anthelmintic

2.6 Test for AR

2.6.1 Detecting anthelmintic resistance

2.6.2 Interpretation of FECRT data

2.7 Use Anthelmintics only when necessary

2.7.1 Managing which animals to treat

2.7.2 Faecal Egg Counts (FECs)

2.7.3 Making the most of FECs

2.7.4 Other diagnostic techniques

2.7.5 Treatment of ewes around lambing

2.7.6 Treatment of ewes around mating