A consortium of sheep health experts has won funding from ADOPT, part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. The project aims to encourage adoption of precision livestock farming technologies (PLF) in the UK sheep flock.
DWG Smith LTD and Edwards Farming Partnership are supported by Emily Gascoigne and team at Synergy Farm Health, Moredun Research Institute, Blyth Livestock Advisory Services and two further commercial farms.
The Weigh to Worm project will test a novel worming approach using Targeted Selective Treatment (TST), an application to drive PLF uptake on sheep farms, validate the approaches by working with commercial farmers to implement the application on their farms and embed the adoption of PLF methods in the UK sheep industry.
The Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and delivered by Innovate UK. FIP supports innovative projects that aim to improve the sustainability and productivity of the agricultural sector.
Wormer use needs to be reduced on farms, to lessen the impact of these chemicals on the environment and to slow the development of anthelmintic resistance. A proven method is to use TST, whereby wormer is only given to underperforming lambs. The initial studies for this approach were conducted at Moredun, and since then an external company has built a TST application, loosely based on the Moredun approach, to allow farmers to make pen-side decisions on wormer use. The Weigh to Worm project will test this application on four sheep farms in the South West of England to assess the number of wormer treatments administered (compared to historic values), and assess the ease of use of setting up the system, obtain farmer feedback and assess the impact that worm species has, if any, on the number of wormer treatments administered.
Validation of the application will be performed on sheep farms across Southwest England, covering a range of geographical locations and using commercially appropriate sheep breeds to ensure evidence that is relevant to the UK sheep industry. The project results will be disseminated through on-farm knowledge exchange events at strategic locations across the UK to demonstrate the ease, accessibility, cost and environmental benefits of using the integrated pen-side TST approach.
Emily Gascoigne, farmer, sheep veterinary surgeon at Synergy Farm Health and Weigh to Worm Project Leader commented
“Managing worm burdens is one of the biggest, ongoing challenges for commercial sheep farms, and that challenge is only getting harder with anthelmintic resistance and shifting weather patterns. New solutions are needed to reduce dependency on anthelmintics – and keep them effective in our arsenal for longer. We are excited to see how this app solution, bringing science and technology together, performs on these farms in the South West!”
Notes to editors
1. DWG Smith LTD is a mixed enterprise with a commercial sheep flock and suckler beef herd. They are located on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, with a diverse range of pasture types including conservation grazing. The farm autumn lambing Poll Dorsets, Hebridean Sheep, Stabiliser and Belted Galloway Cattle.
2. Edwards Farming Partnership is a livestock business based in Dorset, originally set up as a hobby with just a few grazing ewes. It has expanded into a 700-strong ewe flock producing prime lambs from a grazing and forage-based system.
3. Synergy Farm Health is a farm animal practice with a specialist Sheep Health service covering Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Wiltshire. Their sheep team consists of five dedicated vets focusing on preventative flock health planning and research: targeting neonatal lamb mortality, antibiotic reduction strategies and parasitology. Their integrated team of sheep vets, veterinary technicians, laboratory technicians and SQPs is focused on delivering sustainable health management solutions for commercial flocks and promoting flock efficiency. For further details please visit www.synergyfarmhealth.com
4. Moredun Research Institute conducts internationally recognised research on the infectious diseases of livestock, caused by important viruses, bacteria and parasites. It employs scientists and vets that work to improve animal welfare, ensure food safety, reduce adverse impacts on the environment, and to contribute to sustainable communities through economic development across Scotland and beyond. Moredun’s research focuses on understanding the interaction of the disease pathogen with the host species, in identifying new targets for improved diagnostic tests and in development of novel vaccines for many diseases.
5. Blyth Livestock Advisory Services provides complete business solutions for sheep and cattle farmers. They are known for their innovate approach to livestock management, focusing on data collection and monitoring. They deliver a wide range of services to increase productivity and profitability, from one-off consultancy to long term projects. For further details visit https://www.blas-uk.com/
6. Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and delivered by Innovate UK. FIP supports innovative projects that aim to improve the sustainability and productivity of the agricultural sector. By funding cutting-edge research and development, FIP helps drive the adoption of new technologies and practices that benefit farmers, the environment, and society. For further details visit https://farminginnovation.ukri.org/
7. Innovate UK part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate. For further details visit https://www.ukri.org/
