SAC Goes on the Road with Advice on Sheep Breeding and Health

There is a profitable future for sheep farmers throughout the British Isles provided they

adapt their management to the changing pressures on their businesses. At the Sheep

Event, on 2nd August at Malvern, SAC's consultants, researchers and vets will show how they are working together with farmers to meet this challenge.

Featured on SAC stand:

- Disease is an avoidable cost. There will be information about the Sheep Health Schemes and particularly the new caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) Monitoring Scheme

- The "Easycare" approach. Selection of breeding sheep for self-reliant traits such as ease of lambing

- Sustainable control of parasites. The WormScan testing kit, a convenient and inexpensive tool for farmers to use when they follow the Sustainable Control of

Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) recommendations.

1. Health Schemes

Disease is an avoidable cost. Fortunately most top tup breeders are members of the Sheep and Goat Health Schemes (SGHS) Maedi Visna Accreditation Scheme but this

highly pathogenic virus disease is spreading among untested flocks. The SGHS will present the new CLA Monitoring Scheme at Malvern; it is now open to all flock owners.

The pilot scheme operated at the Kelso and Lairg Ram Sales in 2005 provided the basis for the new scheme. This year, rams tested under the rules of the scheme will be available at many of the major sales. The rules are that groups of animals are kept isolated for 12 weeks prior to sale and subject to 2 blood tests and clinical examinations

at least 6 weeks apart within the isolation period. It is important that flock owners establish effective quarantine procedures for the introduction of new sheep to their flocks.

2. "Easycare" Sheep

Many farmers already select breeding sheep for self-reliant traits such as ease of lambing. Many more are likely to adopt this strategy as having sheep that are better able to look after themselves leads to improved flock efficiency. Nevertheless, there is a

danger to sheep welfare of farmers taking a 'leave it to nature' style of farming. A better solution is a planned approach that incorporates health planning, better grassland

management and the application of results of behavioural studies and genetic improvement. At the Sheep Event, John Vipond will explain how farmers may adopt the

"Easycare" approach.

3. Control of parasites

Sheep farmers should reduce their dependency on wormers. SAC Veterinary Services will present their WormScan testing kit, a convenient and inexpensive tool for farmers to use when they follow the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS)

recommendations. Throughout Britain the effective control of parasitic worms and liver fluke in sheep is threatened by the emergence of wormer resistance when wormer products are not fully effectiveat killing parasitic worms. Increasingly there are reports of sheep deaths due to the blood-sucking parasitic worm, Haemonchus contortus. Liver fluke disease has spread from the wetter west to the normally drier east of the country in the past 7 years. This spring, there were unseasonable outbreaks of acute liver fluke disease. These reports reinforce the message that flock owners must review their parasite control strategies. Visit the SAC stand at The Sheep Event 2006 to hear more about the possibilities for worm control that are less dependent on wormers, and help to

reduce the rise of wormer resistance.