NI Sheep Scab Group to host information evenings

A series of information meetings on sheep scab will take place across Northern Ireland in the coming weeks.

Vet Paul Crawford, who spoke to NI Veterinary Today about the launch of a £220,000 scheme to tackle the disease, said: “Five farmer meetings will be held which will see farmers and vets come together to share knowledge and concerns about the condition, following a meal. These meetings will be held during the first two weeks of August.

“For Veterinary surgeons, a specific meeting will be held on the evening of the 2^nd of August in the Dunsilly hotel, Antrim. During this meeting, practitioners will be trained to conduct the on-farm visits which are central to the scheme. The farm visits which will be paid for by the scheme. A refresher on sheep scab will also be given.”

The Chairman of The Northern Ireland Sheep Scab Group said he hoped the project will lay the foundations for Northern Ireland’s first sheep scab eradication programme.

Mr Crawford added: ‘‘Northern Ireland has been lagging behind the rest of the United Kingdom in terms of research and pilot control strategies for decades. We hope this project will act as a catalyst for change and eventually lead to the creation of a bespoke eradication plan for Northern Ireland. But in order to get to that stage, we first have to obtain relevant data. This will give us a clearer picture of what is happening on farms across the country; in terms of prevalence, spread and attitudes towards the disease; as well as what needs to change in terms of communication and education in order to defeat sheep scab for good.”

The meeting dates are: