A New Strategy for Sheep Scab Control in England and Wales AMTRA Refresher Course 18th January 2006

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A New Strategy for Sheep Scab Control in England
and WalesAMTRA Refresher Course18th January
2006

• Lesley Stubbings
• LSSC Ltd.

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Industry Facts

• The UK sheep industry is highly reliant on
  effective anthelmintics for worm control
• We have an increasing problem with resistance

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Retain the activity of the macrocyclic lactones
for as long as possible.
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Industry Facts

• Sheep scab is endemic in the UK
• The ML group are increasingly used to treat or
  control sheep scab
• This represents a significant factor in the
  potential for development of resistance in
  helminths
• ? Resistance in scab mites

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Making the Link

• Importance of the macrocyclic lactones
• Inadvertent use when used for ectoparasite
  control
• Pressures on other forms of ectoparasite control

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of Sheep treatments by Product Type
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Why a New Strategy?

• No national, regional or even individual
  strategies currently in place
• Misdiagnosis rife
• Mis-use and overuse of products
• Environmental and human health concerns
• Armoury of products reducing

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Future for Dipping?

• Health and safety concerns
• Environmental loading
• Resistance

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Workshop Recommendations

• Doing nothing is not an option
• Action is needed now soon too late
• Diagnosis essential
• Cost benefit analysis on eradication of sheep
  scab
• Eradication of sheep scab must be the goal

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Pros of eradication

• Long term benefits to industry and sheep welfare
• OPs and SPs under pressure from resistance
• Preservation of MLs increasingly difficult if
  scab out of control
• Lower environmental / health risks
• Image with consumers
• Partnerships developed

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Cons of Eradication

• Common grazing requires huge effort and
  co-ordination
• Short term risks due to more intensive product
  use
• Organic units
• Imported animals?
• Carrier species
• Costs involved

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Why might we succeed now?

• Less stigma attached to scab
• Fewer sheep in critical areas post SFP?
• Industry attitude changing working partnerships
  with health planning
• Recognition that a staged and varied approach is
  possible
• Groundwork done with AR initiative
• Recognition of need for final draconian measures

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National Flock Structure
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STEP 1 - RISK CATEGORIES
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GROUP 1 - Easily secured

• QUARANTINE!
• Purchased replacements
• Purchased stores
• Sheep returning from tack
• Sheep returning from market unsold

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Group 2 - Partially Secure

• Secure fencing and eliminate shared rubbing
  points
• Consider double fencing vulnerable areas
• Treat some sheep as if in-coming
• Talk to the neighbour

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Group 3 - Insecure

• Common Grazing
• Protect the In-bye
• Use protection for sheep returning to / from
  common grazing

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National Risk Assessment
Lowland 50
Upland 20
Hill 30
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Immediate Actions

• Better / clearer product information for
  improved product use
• Access to clear, accurate advice
• Dose rates / techniques
• Emphasis on diagnosis
• Quarantine bio-security buyer beware

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Next Steps

• Encourage integrated strategies for endo and ecto
  parasites in sheep
• Instill the belief that we dont have to live
  with sheep scab in England and Wales
• Cost benefit analysis

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Eradication

• Must be lead by industry but industry needs our
  help to believe that it is possible!
• System, region and local initiatives required as
  a part of overall plan

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Wide Ranging Partners

• Farmers
• Farmer bodies (NSA NFU etc)
• Markets, hauliers etc.
• Government Agencies (EA HSE etc)
• Government final draconian measures

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Need to Move Forward - together