Latest News

SCOPS welcomes funding announcement for nematode vaccine SCOPS welcomes the announcement that Moredun has accessed £6m to further research a vaccine against nematodes. Given SCOPS works to reduce the speed at which resistance develops to anthelmintic worm treatments, any options to widen the arsenel of tools to tackle worms is very welcome. 17th August 2023 Read More
Open invitation to farmers, contractors and prescribers to 'Safe and effective dipping' webinar Some important and useful updates have been made to the cross-industry Code of Practice for Mobile Sheep Dipping, which SCOPS is excited to be able to share with farmers, contractors and prescribers via a webinar on Thursday 7th September at 1pm. The webinar will discuss all elements of effective, safe dipping – and focus on the role of mobile sheep dippers in keeping on top of sheep scab in particular. 16th August 2023 Read More
SCOPS writes to Vet. Record to increase understanding of rumen fluke SCOPS has joined forces with COWS, its equivalent group for the cattle sector, to increase understanding of rumen fluke. In a letter in the Veterinary Record, SCOPS and COWS representatives have urged against unnecessary treatment of animals with anthelmintics in response to rumen fluke being reports on FEC reports. 14th August 2023 Read More
Expert advice shared via SCOPS online question and answer session Two online question and answer sessions ran by SCOPS at lunchtime and early evening yesterday (Wednesday 19th July) attracted large numbers of vets, advisers and farmers and provided useful and practical advice on checking a worming treatment has been effective. 20th July 2023 Read More
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

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