Latest News

Testing for liver fluke helps sheep and cattle farmers deal with rising tide of infections The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Cattle Parasites Sustainably (COWS) groups are continuing to monitor the situation with regard to liver fluke this season. Speaking on behalf of SCOPS, Lesley Stubbings says: “We are keeping a close watch on what is happening around the country. 18th November 2019 Read More
Sheep and cattle farmers urged to start testing for liver fluke this autumn The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Cattle Parasites Sustainably (COWS) groups are urging sheep and cattle farmers to monitor for liver fluke this autumn. Speaking on behalf of SCOPS, Lesley Stubbings says: “Last autumn and winter the levels of fluke were relatively low, but many areas have been wetter this year and early indications are that there will be more liver fluke around this season. 14th October 2019 Read More
SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast a vital tool for sheep farmers and advisors Despite the threat from nematodirus being lower in spring 2019 than the two previous years, the SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast has once again proven itself to be a vital tool for farmers, vets and SQPs. Speaking on behalf of Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group, Lesley Stubbings says: “Last year the challenge from nematodirus was later and more abrupt, following the ‘Beast from the East’, and resulted in clinical disease on many sheep farms. 30th August 2019 Read More
Sheep farmers encouraged to use newer wormers as a mid-season lamb dose this summer Use of the two newer wormer groups (4-AD orange and 5-SI purple) has doubled in the two years since they became available through SQPs at merchants, but sheep farmers could still harness their potential more. That is the message from the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group, which has campaigned hard to encourage sheep farmers to carefully integrate the two newer groups into their worm control programmes. 30th July 2019 Read More
SCOPS highlights necessary tough line on jetters and showers to protect future of sheep scab control The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is highlighting recent guidance issued by the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA) and supported by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) on not using organophosphate (OP) products in jetters and showers. 15th July 2019 Read More
Do you have questions about sheep scab? The incidence of sheep scab has been rising in recent years. Coupled with confirmed cases of resistance to the injectable treatments it is increasingly important that we get to grips with the facts about this disease. SCOPS needs to know what your questions are so we can work to get you the answers. 13th June 2019 Read More
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. 2nd May 2019 Read More
Addition of Chair Elect to give greater voice for sheep farmers within SCOPS The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is pleased to announce the appointment of South Gloucestershire sheep farmer Kevin Harrison as its new Chair Elect.   Mr Harrison takes on the new position alongside SCOPS Chairman, Devon sheep farmer Peter Baber, who has led the group since its inception. 29th April 2019 Read More
Livestock farmers urged to test sheep and cattle for liver fluke before treating this spring The very dry summer of 2018 followed by winter conditions that have kept liver fluke levels low mean there have been very few reports of losses from acute fluke disease, and incidents of disease due to chronic fluke infections are also much lower than in previous years. 1st April 2019 Read More
Lambs at risk from nematodirus much earlier this year than last, warns SCOPS Read a press release below, but if you're looking for the forecast itself, find it at www.scops.org.uk/nematodirus The sudden increase in temperatures in February puts earlier-born lambs at risk from nematodirus, warns the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group. 4th March 2019 Read More
SCOPS issues five-question checklist to encourage farmers to consider which of their ewes to worm around lambing time Worming ewes around lambing remains a common practice in UK flocks, but whole flock treatments are costly, time consuming and add to the speed with which worms develop resistance to wormers. To address this the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group, an industry body providing best-practice advice, is urging producers to consider carefully which ewes need to be treated around lambing this year. 25th February 2019 Read More
Could you help fellow farmers sustainably control parasites in their sheep? The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is on the hunt for a Chair Elect, a position for an active sheep farmer to help drive activities to support responsible management choices on farms throughout the UK. Speaking on behalf of SCOPS, Lesley Stubbings says: “SCOPS is fortunate to have a very able Chairman, with Devon sheep farmer Peter Baber leading the group since its inception. 20th February 2019 Read More

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