Latest News

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
SCOPS encourages sheep farmers to take practical steps to reduce wormer use this lambing season The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is encouraging sheep farmers to use the monitoring of ewe body condition score as a practical step to significantly reduce how many doses of wormer are administered this lambing season. The group says new evidence supports this approach as a way to cut the proportion of ewes wormed around lambing time, without detrimental effects on lamb performance, allowing producers to adjust their approach at this time of year. 27th February 2023 Read More
SCOPS urges care with dose rates when using products containing closantel Following a small number of reports of overdosing, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is urging sheep farmers to take care when using wormers and flukicides containing the active ingredient closantel. Giving an animal too much closantel can cause permanent blindness, which has happened on some sheep farms in recent months. 20th February 2023 Read More
SCOPS contributes to free webinar for sheep farmers Two members of the SCOPS Steering Group (independent sheep adviser Lesley Stubbings and Moredun scientist Philip Skuce) spoke in an NSA webinar on Wednesday 15th February - to explore the balance between effective sheep parasite control and the environment. 16th February 2023 Read More
Don’t overreact to rumen fluke figures in FEC results, urge cattle and sheep industry experts The inclusion of rumen fluke figures in faecal egg count sample results isn’t necessarily a cause for concern, according to experts in the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Cattle Parasites Sustainably (COWS) groups. SCOPS and COWS has been working hard to encourage livestock producers to use FECs to monitor liver fluke burdens in cattle and sheep, particularly as this internal parasite becomes increasingly unpredictable – and this has brought rumen fluke under the spotlight too. 13th February 2023 Read More
Cold snaps haven’t been enough to remove fluke risk for cattle and sheep, warn industry experts Although, as forecast, cases of disease due to liver fluke have remained relatively low so far this winter, there are reports of both acute and chronic disease in some areas of the UK. This means livestock farmers must not drop their guard, warn experts in the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Cattle Parasites Sustainably (COWS) groups. 7th February 2023 Read More
SCOPS urges care with dose rates when using products containing closantel SCOPS is aware of a few reported cases where an overdose of closantel has led to blindness in the affected animals. The safe use of animal medicines relies on all the instructions for use being followed as per the label - and a key issue is ensuring animals receive the correct dose. 6th February 2023 Read More
SCOPS updates Know Your Anthelmintics guide The SCOPS 'Know Your Anthelmintics' guide is a widely-consulted document that lists all the anthelmintic products available in the UK to treat internal and external parasites. It's easy-to-follow format helps users understand which groups products belong it, while also providing general advice on administrating them. 17th January 2023 Read More
SCOPS welcomes All-Wales Sheep Scab Eradication Programme After a great deal of anticipation, SCOPS is delighted an All-Wales Sheep Scab Eradication Programme has now been announced. SCOPS is committed to helping join up projects throughout the UK nations, to ensure approaches and outcomes are shared.   The Royal Veterinary College press release about the Welsh project is replicated here. 20th December 2022 Read More
Testing this winter is the key to liver fluke control, say industry experts The level of liver fluke is forecast to be relatively low for much of the UK, but the risk to grazing livestock on individual farms is becoming less predictable. That is the warning from expets in the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Cattle Parasites Sustainably (COWS) groups, who say diagnostic testing is critical to make sure farmers don’t treat too soon, or unnecessarily, or get caught out and miss a vital treatment. 5th December 2022 Read More
SCOPS urges sheep farmers to keep monitoring worm burdens in lambs The dry summer and mild, wet autumn of 2022 has resulted in a high worm challenge on many farms, with reports from around the UK of lambs suffering from the effects of high worm burdens. From poor growth rates through to deaths, the losses are significant – but according to the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group, are preventable with monitoring. 25th November 2022 Read More

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