| Drive Against Sheep Scab a Success ... so far |
|
A drive to eradicate sheep scab from Borders flocks has been successful so far, with no outbreaks of the infection reported in 2003 and 2004. Sheep farmers are being urged to stay vigilant to maintain that record this year. The contagious disease can cause severe skin irritation, affect ewe condition and growth rate of lambs, damage wool and reduce sheepskin quality. Much of the credit for the Borders campaign has been attributed to the Cheviot scab group, chaired by Rhiddian Jones, farm manager at the Macaulay Research Institutes' Sourhope farm near Yetholm. Brian Hosie, an SAC sheep veterinary specialist who advises the industry-led sheep scab initiative, said the group's success emphasised the usefulness of local co-operation to co-ordinate action against scab. "If all farmers in an area take action at the same time it reduces the chances of untreated sheep reinfecting treated animals," he said. "That's what the group is doing successfully." • A campaign to get more mutton on consumers' tables has been given a boost. Click here for the entire story. Source: Scotsman.com, Alan Duncan |