Latest News

SCOPS representatives invited to speak at VMD online symposium The Antiparasitic Resistance Research Symposium being ran by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) in August will feature two SCOPS Steering Group members - independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings and Moredun Principle Scientist Dave Bartley - as well as SCOPS supporters, Eric Morgan of Queen's University Belfast, who was instrumental in the creation of the SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast, and Moredun's Stewart Burgess, who SCOPS worked closely with on the For Flock's Sake sheep scab project. 19th July 2023 Read More
SCOPS Chair provides useful video guides to Wormer Treatment Check kits and how to use them Sheep farmers in England accessing funding for the Annual Health and Welfare Review under the Defra Animal Helath & Welfare Pathway are to complete a Worming Treatment Check. This is two faecal egg counts (FEC), before and after lambs have been dosed, to check the effectiveness of the treatment. 18th July 2023 Read More
SCOPS webinar to provide real-world advice on checking if a worming treatment has been effective To continue to build on its role of providing practical advice for sheep farmers, vets, prescribers and advisers, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is offering two free-to-attend webinars in mid-July. How to check if a worming treatment has been effective Wednesday 19th July 2023 12pm - Q&A for vets, RAMAs, SQPs and other advisers. 11th July 2023 Read More
SCOPS highlights APHA special offer on haemonchus testing SCOPS would like to draw attention of vets, advisers and farmers that APHA is currently offering a reduced price on staining of trichostrongyle-type eggs in faecal egg tests (FECs) to detect haemonchus sp. eggs. See the notification from APHA below. Reduced APHA price for Haemonchus eggs differential stain, TC0777. 4th July 2023 Read More
Make your Defra Pathway funding work harder for your flock, SCOPS tells sheep farmers in England Sheep farmers can make the most of funding from the Defra Animal Health & Welfare Pathway with a little planning to optimise the timing of the Worming Treatment Check, says the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) Group. Eligible livestock farmers in England can currently access £436 funding for a vet-led health and welfare review and a Worming Treatment Check. 18th April 2023 Read More
Much of England, Wales and lower lying ground in Scotland and Northern Ireland at high nematodirus risk, warns SCOPS Nematodirus is a tricky worm to guard young lambs against, because the level of risk is strongly linked to weather patterns, warns the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) Group. So far, spring 2023 has seen variable temperatures, with unseasonably cool spells followed by warmer periods. 14th April 2023 Read More
SCOPS contributes to AHDB Food & Farming podcast Representing the SCOPS Steering Group, independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings has been featured on the latest episode of the AHDB Food & Farming podcast. Lesley spoke to Dr Nerys Wright, who also sits on the SCOPS Steering Group, about the SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast and details of the sheep element of the Defra-funded Animal Health & Welfare Pathway. 4th April 2023 Read More
SCOPS highlights findings of research into the peri-parturient rise The findings of a Welsh Government-funded project have been published, with SCOPS highlighting the report as useful additional information for current understanding of the peri-parturient rise (PPR) in ewes at lambing time. PPR is when the immune system of a ewe is compromised due to the stress of lambing, allowing adult worms in the ewe's gut to produce more eggs. 3rd April 2023 Read More
Can you help Queen's University Belfast identify the signs of spring?! The clock's have changed and things are feeling more springlike. But can the tradition signs of spring help farmers identify risks to their livestock? That is a study being conducted by Queen's University Belfast. Dr Eric Morgan says: "We know lots of sheep farmers are visiting the SCOPS website at this time of year, to use the SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast. 28th March 2023 Read More
SCOPS applauds the creation of an equivalent group for equines Having been supportive of the concept since it’s inception, SCOPS is please to see the launch of the Controlling ANTiparasitic resistance in Equines Responsibly (CANTER) group. SCOPS has fed into the creation of the group, lending expertise from more than 10 years of addressing the threat of anthelmintic resistance in sheep. 13th March 2023 Read More
SCOPS welcomes agricultural journalists to nematodirus press briefing Earlier this week (Tuesday 7th March 2023), the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group welcomed agricultural journalists and other guests to a press briefing about the threat posed by nematodirus this spring - and steps farmers, vets and advisers can take to protect spring-born lambs. 9th March 2023 Read More
Free online parasite forecast available to UK sheep farmers Wide fluctuations in temperatures in recent weeks and predictions of a very cold spell in March mean sheep farmers will have to be even more aware of the risk factors when it comes to the threat of nematodirus in their lambs this spring. The Nematodirus Forecast from the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is a free online service that will prove to be an invaluable resource for producers, vets and advisers at www. 6th March 2023 Read More

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