The first two episodes of a new podcast series from the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group came out this week, aiming to offer another tool to the UK sheep industry on parasite control.

SCOPS chair and sheep farmer, Kevin Harrison, features on the first episode.

“The SCOPS steering group is really excited about this new podcast series as an additional way for vets, advisers and farmers to engage in the topic of sustainable control of sheep parasites,” he said.

“Whether its vets listening as they drive between farm visits, a suitably qualified person (SQP) or other adviser listening as they drive to work, or a farmer tuning in while checking their stock, we’re confident the podcasts are a really useful new tool in the service SCOPS offers the UK sheep sector.

“SCOPS already has a huge range of resources on its website, plus a great system for issuing updates and warnings at key times of the year, but this is an extra string to the bow that busy people can access on-the-go.”

Principles in practice

The first podcast episode, which looks at the SCOPS principles in practice on farms, came out on Monday (October 23).

In addition to Harrison, the episode features specialist sheep vet with Flock Health, Phillipa Page, and SQP Jess Frost – an animal health specialist with Fram Farmers.

The second episode came out on Friday (October 27) and covered practical options for performing wormer treatment checks and faecel egg count.

It featured SCOPS specialist and independent sheep consultant, Lesley Stubbings, sheep farmer Anna Hawke and Rebecca Mearns of Biobest.

Episodes three and four of the podcast series will come out next month. 

“We hope this first series of four episodes is well received,” Harrison said.

“The SCOPS steering group has a long list of other topics it would like to feature in future episodes – so please give us your feedback on this first offering to help us develop the podcasts further in the future.”