A two-year project to help bring sheep scab under control has been launched.
Sheep scab is a highly infectious disease caused by a parasitic mite and costs the UK sheep industry an estimated £70 million to £200 million every year.
It has remained a significant problem for the health, welfare, and productivity of sheep since the 1950s when it was reintroduced via imported sheep.
Populations of sheep scab mites in the UK now have proven resistance to one of the main treatment groups, so it is imperative that the agricultural industry made a concerted effort to bring this disease under control.
The project, which will be carried out across the North West, the Midlands and South West – where sheep scab is a particular problem – will engage farmers who are willing to work with their neighbours and their vets in testing, sharing results and undertaking the practical elements required to bring sheep scab under control.
The work will be co-ordinated by local industry groups already working with sheep farmers in each focus area, including the Farmer Network in the North West.
The project, led by Dr Stewart Burgess at the Moredun Research Institute, Lesley Stubbings at LSSC Ltd and Professor Richard Wall at Bristol University, with partners across the country including the Farmer Network, has been successful in securing DEFRA funding via the Rural Development Programme for England.
It aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of a community-led approach to improve the control of sheep scab.
The project will offer participating farmers a unique combination of on-farm advice, training and free blood testing using the sheep scab ELISA test developed by Moredun.
It will also cover the costs of visits by the farmer’s local veterinary surgeon.
For more information, call 01768 868615 or email admin@thefarmernetwork.co.uk
