The new podcast series from the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group drop this week, offering yet another tool to the UK sheep industry on this essential topic.
Kevin Harrison, a sheep farmer on the Gloucestershire-Somerset border and SCOPS Chair, features on the first episode. He comments:
“The SCOPS Steering Group is really excited about this new podcast series as an additional way for vets, advisers and farmers to engage in the topic of sustainable control of sheep parasites.
“Whether its vets listening as they drive between farm visits, a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) or other adviser listening as they drive to work, or a farmer tuning in while checking their stock, we’re confident the podcasts are a really useful new tool in the service SCOPS offers the UK sheep sector. SCOPS already has a huge range of resources on its website, plus a great system for issuing updates and warnings at key times of the year, but this is an extra string to the bow that busy people can access on-the-go.”
- The SCOPS Principles, in action on farms – with SCOPS Chair Kevin Harrison, vet Phillipa Page and Suitably Qualified Person Jess Frost.
- Practical options for performing wormer treatment checks and faecal egg counts – with SCOPS expert Lesley Stubbings, Biobest senior veterinary adviser Rebecca Mearns and Wiltshire sheep farmer Anna Hawke.
- Tackling sheep scab – in association with Moredun – with Moredun’s Dr Stew Burgess and vet Karen Swindlehurst.
- Don’t get caught out by liver fluke – understanding and responding to risk (in association with Moredun) – with Moredun’s Dr Philip Skuce, specialist sheep vet Davinia Hinde and Argyllshire farmer Brian Walker.
Mr Harrison says:
“We hope this first series of four episodes is well received. The SCOPS Steering Group has a long list of other topics it would like to feature in future episodes – so please give us your feedback on this first offering to help us develop the podcasts further in the future.”
Further information:
- This press release is issued by National Sheep Association (NSA) on behalf of SCOPS. For more information contact Katie James, NSA Communications Manager, on 01684 892661 or katie@nationalsheep.org.uk.
- SCOPS is funded by AgriSearch, AHDB, Animal Health Distributors Association (AHDA), Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA), Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC), National Farmers Union (NFU), National Office of Animal Health (NOAH), National Sheep Association (NSA), Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and Vetpol. These bodies are joined by a number of experts in parasitology and sheep health to form the SCOPS Steering Group. A full list is available at www.scops.org.uk