Test and target sheep parasites

Testing, forecasting and targeted treatments will play a key role in the range of measures for tackling worm and parasite infections in the national sheep flock – and will be as important as the development of new products.

.That was the view of a number of scientists involved in finding ways of addressing many of the major issues affecting the nation’ sheep flock – such as worms, fluke and sheep scab.

Speaking at a briefing yesterday organised by the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) – a coalition of scientists, researchers and farmers drawn together to do what is says on the tin – Moredun’s Dr Philip Skuce said that with a limited number of new treatments coming down the pipeline it made sense for the sector to make the most of what it already had.

And this included adopting measures which countered the tendency for over-use of individual treatments and practices which could lead to resistance amongst worms and other parasites.

Dr Fiona Kenyon, also from the institute highlighted work on selective targeted treatment which used computer algorithms to predict expected growth rates in lambs – and which identified those failing to meet expectations, meaning only they needed to be treated:

“And while this not only reduces the chances of encouraging resistance, it also saves farmers money in terms of lower anthelmintic usage and of farm labour.”

However she pointed out that the targeted selective treatment (TST) approach required the adoption of precision livestock farming techniques which was still low in the sheep sector – and the barriers to uptake were currently being investigated.