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Wet winter could mean more ewes need worming, SCOPS says
SCOPS recommends using loss of body condition score to identify which ewes to treat.
Producers urged to carefully consider which ewes to worm.

Following a wet winter in the UK, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group has said that more ewes might need targeted worming than in previous lambing seasons.

The weather conditions will have had an impact on the overall health of many ewes, and restrictions on sheep movement in some areas due to bluetongue may also have prevented ewes being moved to new pasture on some farms.

As blanket treatment can lead to the development of anthelmintic resistance, SCOPS recommends carefully targeting treatment for ewes which have seen a loss of body condition score, indicating that they are under nutritional stress.

Lesley Stubbings said: “If you just treat those females, which are the ones more likely to produce a high number of worm eggs in their dung, you can reduce the total amount of anthelmintic used this spring compared to blanket treating, without impacting production.

“If you’ve followed this approach before, it wouldn’t be surprising to find yourself treating a few more ewes this year than in previous seasons, given the pressure some ewes have been under.”

The recommended guidance used to be to treat all ewes at lambing time, but SCOPS has adjusted its advice in recent years based on new research.

Ms Stubbings added: “Healthy adult ewes in optimum body condition have good immunity to roundworms and will sustain this if they are well fed, even under the stress of lambing and rearing lambs.”

SCOPS urges producers to speak to their veterinary surgeon and/or animal health adviser about worming.

Image © Shutterstock

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Antibiotic Amnesty survey opens

News Story 1
 The Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA - CA&E) has launched a survey which seeks to measure the success of this year's Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.

Its results will help the group to calculate how many unused or out-of-date antibiotics were returned as part of the campaign throughout November. Practices are also asked how they engaged with clients to raise awareness of the issue.

Participating practices can enter a prize draw to win up to 100 in vouchers for taking part. Further prizes from BSAVA and Webinar Vet will be available for practices with the best input.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will be running throughout December. It can be accessed via this link

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.