SCOPS Group welcomes new anthelmintic for sheep, but warns the sheep industry to use it carefully

The introduction of a new broad spectrum anthelmintic group (4-AD monepantel*) on to the UK market is an important addition in the fight to maintain good worm control in UK sheep flocks, says the SCOPS group. But, they warn, it does not take the pressure off the need to reduce our reliance on anthelmintics and it must be used carefully.

"Resistance has become an ever increasing threat since the last new anthelmintic group was introduced to the UK market more than 25 years ago" says Peter Baber, NSA and Chair of SCOPS. "Monepantel offers farmers a valuable opportunity to maintain good worm control and prolong the effective life of the existing products. Following the SCOPS guidelines to carefully integrate monepantel into worm control strategies, before the other groups fail, will allow our sheep industry to reap the full benefits of this new novel group for longer" he adds.

With respect to the application of monepantel, Lesley Stubbings, independent consultant says "Controlling worms on farms with triple resistance is a clear application. However, by far the largest benefit will come from the integration of monepantel into the chemical control strategy on a farm at an early stage, before resistance levels are so high that other groups are no longer effective.

Done carefully this allows us to reduce the selection pressure for resistance to the existing groups, keeping them effective for longer. "In the UK we are in a better position than many other parts of the world, because it’s not too late for us to sustain the effectiveness of other groups" says Ms Stubbings. "But we must act now" she stresses. "With our [UK] ever increasing reliance on the macro- cyclic lactones (3-ML group) as endectocides for scab control, the pressure is really on if we are to maintain their effectiveness as a means of worm control"

she adds.

"SCOPS believes that monepantel can have a major impact on worm control in the UK, but this depends heavily on Vets and advisers encouraging farmers to use it carefully, before double or triple resistance becomes more common," says Peter Baber. "The industry has a major responsibility to exercise great care to protect the new group from over-use and mis-use to maintain its effectiveness.

The application of SCOPS principles is more important than ever" he adds.