Latest News

On-the-ground evidence adds weight to SCOPS-COWS warnings of higher risk liver fluke season The number of positive liver fluke cases is beginning to rise, in line with the statement made by the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) groups in October that, after a wet, mild summer and autumn, livestock farmers could be facing a high challenge for some areas. 3rd December 2024 Read More
Useful information shared in SCOPS liver fluke webinar On Thursday 7th November SCOPS held a specialist webinar for vets and advisers about liver fluke. Levels of liver fluke in the UK have been relatively low in recent years - but after a wet and mild summer and autumn in many areas, forecasts are predicting that 2024/25 will buck the trend, resulting in a high liver fluke challenge for some areas. 8th November 2024 Read More
Farmers urged to test for liver fluke in an autumn and winter that could be ‘very different’ to recent years The relatively low and later incidence of liver fluke in recent years shouldn’t make sheep farmers complacent this autumn and winter, say the Sustainable Control of Parasites of Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Cattle Parasites Sustainably (COWS) groups. 29th October 2024 Read More
SCOPS contributes to Farmers Weekly article on haemonchus This week saw Farmers Weekly publish a useful article on Haemonchus contortus, highlighting the role of climate change in allowing the barber's pole worm to be more widely spread in the UK, but also emphasising how similar the symptoms it causes are to other parasites. 25th October 2024 Read More
SCOPS and COWS invite vets and advisers to Test-Based Control of Liver Fluke webinar The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) are inviting vets and advisers to a webinar exploring the 'Test, Don't Guess' mantra for test-based liver fluke control in sheep and cattle, and how the addition of a new lateral fluke liver fluke test is opening up options for controlling this production-damaging parasite. 18th October 2024 Read More
Reminder from SCOPS about bluetongue and insecticides With the ongoing bluetongue situation in the UK, SCOPS would like to remind farmers, vets and advisers that insecticides will not prevent midges biting livestock so should not be prescribed as a way to prevent bluetongue or reduce transmission.   Speaking on behalf of SCOPS, independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings says: “Insecticides do not kill midges fast enough to prevent the first bite, and that first bite is all it takes to transmit bluetongue. 5th September 2024 Read More
Series two of popular SCOPS podcast lands The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) Group is delighted to announce the first episode of the second series of its popular podcast is now live – available from the SCOPS website or wherever you get your podcasts. Kevin Harrison, Gloucestershire sheep farmer and SCOPS Chair, says: “Following the overwhelmingly positive reception to series one of the SCOPS podcast, it made absolute sense for us to commission series two. 17th July 2024 Read More
SCOPS involved in important new sheep scab project SCOPS is delighted to be part of a new project investigating the resistance of scab mites to ML injectables. The project will be led by Moredun, with support from Glasgow University, SRUC and SCOPS, and will build on the success of the 'For Flock's Sake' and other projects working to tackle sheep scab throughout the UK. 19th June 2024 Read More
SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast gives confidence in low-risk year While the cold and quite often wet weather in early spring made lambing harder work than usual in many parts of the UK, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) Group says it also reduced the nematodirus threat to 2024-born lambs – something that has been demonstrated by the SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast. 23rd May 2024 Read More
Now is the time to start faecal egg counts (FECs) on February and March-born lambs, says SCOPS While roundworm activity so far this season has been relatively low, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) Group says the recent temperature increase means this could change quickly on many farms, as warm, damp conditions encourage larvae to hatch from eggs and develop into infective larvae on pastures. 16th May 2024 Read More
Clarity provided about role of insecticides in reducing bluetongue transmission Lesley Stubbings of the SCOPS Steering Group has supported advice from the Ruminant Health & Welfare Group (RHWG) about avoiding ineffective and sometimes inappropriate steps to reduce midge activity in the hope of reducing bluetongue transmission. She is quoted in a RHWG press release below, urging farmers not to use insecticides in an unsustainable way. 7th May 2024 Read More
Practical advice issued for users of the SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast Wide fluctuations in temperature, weather patterns and topography means the nematodirus threat continues to be hugely variable for sheep flocks up and down the UK – which is why the traffic light warning system built into the Nematodirus Forecast provided by the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is so valuable to sheep farmers. 26th March 2024 Read More

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