Worms are a major threat to the health and performance of lambs and anthelmintics (wormers) are an essential part of good worm control. However, over recent years the sheep industry in the UK has become increasingly dependent on these relatively cheap products, and their frequent use (and sometimes misuse) has led to the development of resistance in the worm population.
Anthelmintic resistance is now a serious threat to sheep production. The sheep sector cannot just sit back and expect new anthelmintic groups to solve this problem. Unless there is a change in the way these products are used, it would only take a short while to render even a new anthelmintic group ineffective.
SCOPS (Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep) was formed to develop strategies for parasite control in sheep. The latest SCOPS guidelines are:
- Quarantine treatments – yard, treat (drench with monepantel and use injectable moxidectin), quarantine for three weeks on pasture which has already had sheep on this year
- Always administer drenches correctly and at the right dose rate
- Test for resistance
- Look at your control strategy
- Reduce dependence on anthelmintics where possible
- Try to use anthelmintics only when necessary
- Select the most appropriate anthelmintic
- Preserve susceptible worms
Click here to download the BRP parasite control guide.
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