A new sheep scab eradication programme, developed by the farming industry in partnership with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Coleg Sir Gar, aims to help eradicate sheep scab in farms across Wales.
Planning to launch in Spring 2023, the “All-Wales Sheep Scab Eradication Programme” will be a critical step towards reducing the prevalence of the disease seen in Welsh flocks.
Affecting more than 2,000 farms and 30 percent of sheep in Wales each year, sheep scab creates ever itching in sheep, as well as wool and weight loss and, in some cases, mortality. This makes it a major welfare concern for sheep keepers throughout the country.
Sheep scab has also traditionally been regarded as a mark of poor farming practice, which can have wide ranging detrimental effects on the iconic Welsh farming industry.
Working in partnership with Coleg Sir Gar, Gwaredu Bovine Viral Diarrhoea, Menter a busnes, Dwr Cymru, Lantra, Hybu Cig Cymru and the National Sheep Association, the sheep scab eradication programme team, including technical lead, Dr Neil Paton (lecturer in farm animal health and production at the RVC), will invite all farms in Wales suffering with Sheep Scab to take part in this innovative programme.
As part of the sheep scab eradication programme, farmers will be asked to self-report to the project staff.
Following this, the team will take skin scrapes from affected sheep and if positive for Sheep Scab, further bloods will be sampled for antibodies to the disease-causing parasitic mite, Psoroptes ovis.
All farms returning positive results will be dipped by contractors authorised as part of the programme.
While the main aim of the sheep scab eradication programme is to encourage a significant reduction in sheep scab cases in Wales, it is also hoped that it will provide evidence as to how groups of farmers can work together to control disease beyond the parameters of their own farms.
This will also help improve wider farming practices and ensure healthier animals that have a reduced need for treatment.
John Griffiths, programme manager of animal health and welfare Wales at Coleg Sir Gar, said: “Evidence of Sheep Scab is frequently confirmed across Wales. It is hoped this consolidated industry wide effort will achieve significant gains in eradicating this disease.
This Programme is funded by the Welsh Government through the Rural Investment Schemes, delivering Programme for Government commitments to continue supporting farmers to produce food in a sustainable way, while taking action to respond to the climate emergency and to help reverse the decline in biodiversity.
