Temperature fluctuations creating a different nematodirus challenge to previous years

With risk levels rising sharply in the last seven to 10 days, the SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast at www.scops.org.uk/nematodirus is showing many areas of the UK now at ‘high’ or ‘very high’ risk levels for lambs that are six weeks old. In the cooler regions of the UK temperatures have yet to reach the threshold so farmers in these areas need to watch the forecast carefully.

Lesley Stubbings of SCOPS says: “This year has been very different. The warm spell in February put early-born lambs at risk and many farmers had to treat earlier than normal. And then, as predicted, we also saw risk levels rise again after the cold start to April. Following the free online forecast has provided a valuable guide for sheep farmers and we have had some positive feedback from users.”

Kerry Sykes-Marsden, a shepherd with for 900 ewes in Lincolnshire, agrees: “The SCOPS forecast has taken the guess work out of controlling nematodirus. Based on the advice on the website we’ve treated lambs earlier this year and this has avoided the ‘wait and see’ approach when we haven’t acted in the past to see clinical signs. Some years we have just gone in and wormed at six weeks of age, which could be too early or, even worse, too late.”

A new feature on the website this year is a table that shows when each location on the map has changed colour. Ms Stubbings adds: “The historic data at www.scops.org.uk/forecasts/historic-data is a really useful tool that I recommend having a look at. In some areas the colours have gone straight to black (without turning red) which emphasises the rapid fluctuations in temperatures we have had.”

Further information

• The SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast map is updated daily using data from 140 weather stations (provided by the Met Office and DarkSky), tracking changes in risk throughout the spring and early summer. The interactive Google map allows farmers and advisers to select the nearest or most representative weather station and then provides advice on how to relate the predicted risk to their particular farm, treatment options and possible management actions. Sheep farmers should consult their vet or adviser with regard to local risks and treat lambs if they are deemed to be at risk.

Notes to editors

• This press release is issued by National Sheep Association (NSA) on behalf of SCOPS. For more information contact Katie James, NSA Communications Officer, on 01684 892661 or [email protected].
• SCOPS is an industry body funded by AgriSearch, AHDB Beef & Lamb, Animal Health Distributors Association (AHDA), Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA), Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC), National Farmers Union (NFU), National Office of Animal Health (NOAH), National Sheep Association (NSA) and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). These bodies are joined by a number of experts in parasitology and sheep health to form the SCOPS Steering Group. A full list is available at www.scops.org.uk.