New sheep dipping guidelines now in place – what to expect

Sheep farmers should collaborate closely with dipping contractors to keep abreast of updated dipping guidelines as part of an industry-wide focus on best practice.

Fresh directives on prescribing sheep dip and limiting distributors to supply contractors with only seven days’ supply of organophosphate (OP) solution at a time are now in place for the sheep sector.

This change follows a review of the mobile sheep-dipping code of practice, developed by Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (Scops) and industry partners, including Bimeda, currently the UK’s sole OP dip distributor.

See also: Farmers warned over ‘cowboy’ sheep dip contractors

The move has come after increased costs and regulatory burdens have shifted most dipping work into the contracting sector. Reports of increased sheep scab have driven demand for dipping services.

Providing contractors comply with the code, they have been reassured they can get seven days’ worth of prescribed product.

Farmers will still be able to use dip for preventative reasons, as well as treatment, and contractors will record the reason for use.

What has changed?

First launched in 2021 by the National Sheep Association (NSA), the Animal Health Distributors Association (AHDA), the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA) and the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC), the two key changes to the code of practice are:

• Dip must be properly prescribed: Mobile dipping contractors will ask for addition information at the time of booking. This allows them to obtain dip, prescribed specifically for your sheep. Remember to book a contractor as far in advance as possible to allow for this.
• A maximum of seven days’ supply can be provided in advance: A contractor can legally purchase and store OP dip that is intended for up to seven days of continuous dipping, provided the dip has been properly prescribed

What should farmers expect?

Flock owners should not be alarmed if the contractor requests more information than before.

This is to comply with appendix three of the code, which now asks for details such as the number of sheep to be dipped, if they have received other medicines recently, and whether they are being dipped for treatment or prevention.

The contractor will then provide the suitably qualified person/vet with this information to allow them to prescribe the dip for use in the flock.

Rely more on dip

Speaking as part of a recent Scops webinar (7 September), independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings said that more businesses were depending on OP dip because the sheep scab mite is resistant to the only other option available, macrocyclic lactones (MLs).

She said that, while resistance to MLs has been confirmed, it is not widespread, and injectable MLs still have a role to play in sheep scab control.

Lesley reminded farmers that OP plunge dip should never be used in showers or jetters. “OP dip is only licensed for use via plunge baths and misuse via showers or jetters will drive the development of resistance,” she said.