Latest News

Think it's Haemonchus? Don't panic - test first to be sure.  SCOPS (Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep) is encouraging farmers and the wider sheep industry to stay alert and informed as Haemonchus contortus - commonly known as Barber’s Pole worm - gains more attention across the UK.   While recent reports and testing suggest increased interest and possible cases of haemonchosis (disease associated with Haemonchus infections) appearing further north across the country, the reasons aren’t fully understood yet. 10th June 2025 Read More
SCOPS at NSA North Sheep Come and meet the people behind SCOPS at NSA North Sheep this Wednesday 4th June.  The event is being held at Greystoke Castle Farm, Penrith by kind permission of the Peile family. SCOPS technical consultant Nerys Wright says " This is the perfect opportunity to come and meet some of the experts of the SCOPS group. 2nd June 2025 Read More
NEMATODIRUS UPDATE 14 April 2025 – managing the risks after an unusually warm start to spring 2025 is proving to be a year we must consider the broader factors that combine with temperature, to determine if/when to treat lambs for Nematodirus. The recent warm spell has resulted in many areas of the country reaching temperatures that lead to the hatching of nematodirus larvae on pastures that carried lambs last spring. 14th April 2025 Read More
SCOPS and COWS urge sheep and cattle producers to remain vigilant as the liver fluke risks extends into Spring 2025 The season for disease due to Liver Fluke in cattle and sheep has been shifting later, and 2024/5 is no exception warn SCOPS and COWS. ‘Historically, we would have expected to see acute/sub-acute disease in grazing livestock during the autumn and early winter’ says Philip Skuce of Moredun. 3rd April 2025 Read More
SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast: Essential tool for determining flock risk amid recent warmer weather   The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) Group is once again offering its invaluable Nematodirus Forecast to help farmers, vets and advisers identify when lambs might be at risk of exposure to nematodirus, ensuring timely and effective interventions. 19th March 2025 Read More
SCOPS encourages farmers to consider their pre-lambing worming treatments this year. The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) Group advocates a targeted approach to parasite control in ewes, emphasising the importance of assessing ewe condition and utilising faecal egg counts (FECs) to determine the need for worming ewes pre-lambing. 26th February 2025 Read More
SCOPS and COWS urge use of FECs to manage ongoing liver fluke threat Within the range of tools available to producers to monitor liver fluke, experts in the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) groups are promoting faecal egg counts (FECs) at this point in the risk period. 11th February 2025 Read More
SCOPS investigates new tools to help determine worm species on sheep farms Working with partners Biobest and Queens University Belfast, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is exploring a method that could provide farmers and their vets and advisers with valuable information on the worm species present in dung samples. 31st January 2025 Read More
SCOPS and COWS encourage care when rotating different products to treat liver fluke The very limited number of flukicides available to treat cattle and sheep in the UK means it’s essential for farmers, vets and advisers to fully understand their product choices, say the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) groups. 28th January 2025 Read More
SCOPS on the hunt for Steering Group Deputy Chair The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is welcoming applications from sheep farmers in the UK to be the next SCOPS Steering Group Deputy Chair. The role of the Deputy Chair is to support the Chair, deputising where requested, and to develop sufficient understanding and involvement in SCOPS to allow a seamless transition from Deputy to Chair when the time comes. 24th January 2025 Read More
Don’t let incidental rumen fluke egg counts distract from serious threat of liver fluke, says SCOPS and COWS The inclusion of rumen fluke egg counts on reports provided by laboratories should not detract from important information provided by liver fluke egg counts, say experts in the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) groups. 22nd January 2025 Read More
Know your anthelmintics groups for 2025 SCOPS is delighted to announce the ever-popular and highly useful SCOPS Know Your Anthelmintics guide has been updated for 2025, ensuring the information inside is bang-up-to-date for UK sheep producers. As well as listing all licenced anthelmintics within the groups they belong to, the guide also has practical advice on administering products and making environmentally-sound decisions. 16th January 2025 Read More

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