Podcast – AHDB Beef & Lamb: Tackling parasites in sheep with SCOPS
Nematodirus forecasting
The nematodirus forecasting map for 2023 is live and hosted on the SCOPS website. The map uses the daily temperature to monitor when the over winter larvae may hatch and the subsequent risk of Nematodirus this year in young lambs. Other risk factors to consider are the age of the lambs and the amount they’re grazing and ingesting.
The Animal Health and Welfare pathway
For the Defra funded animal health and welfare pathway, the registration process is now open. There is £436 available to sheep farmers with 51 or more sheep and have claimed BPS in the past. As part of the pathway, farmers can expect 2-3 hour visit from their vet, a report highlighting the key prioritise for that business and a summary of the results from their wormer treatment check (WTC). In order to ensure that farmers get the most out of this pathway, it is important to ensure FECs are taken as a representative sample, as fresh as possible and wormers only used when they are high enough to warrant a treatment. Discuss the efficacy results with your vet or SQP/RAMA.
There have been some concerns with submissions received since the launch with samples from adult sheep and submission of samples that have been pooled on farm. In general, for most flocks, testing in lambs from mid-summer onwards will be most useful and get the most out of this testing. It’s been great to see such enthusiasm with flocks registering for the AHWP Vet Review visits but for most flocks there is no sense of urgency, and waiting may be the sensible option given the need to complete testing within a 6 month window from registration to claim funding.
If you have any question on the AHWP then several of the committee are well versed in the requirements having contributed to the co-design so please get in touch.
Further info: