The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is warning of resistance to the 4-AD group of anthelmintics (monepantel) in the Netherlands in sheep nematodes.
The full details are not yet available, but the group understands this situation has arisen because the farms have relied on the 4-AD product because they have resistance to all the other classes available to them.
This comes as a timely warning to the UK, warns Peter Baber, SCOPS chairman and sheep farmer, who said: "This is exactly the situation SCOPS predicted would occur if we do not integrate the new groups into worm control strategies before the older products become ineffective.
"There are still a large number of UK farms where one or more of the three older groups remain effective. If we carefully integrate the 4-AD and 5-SI products into worm control programmes now, it will extend the useful life of all groups."
* Meanwhile, Alyn Smith SNP MEP and honorary president of the Scottish SPCA, has vowed to continue the fight against indirect EU subsidies for bullfighting, following a narrow defeat in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
Mr Smith's group proposed a budget amendment that would have stopped farmers from using subsidies from the Common Agricultural Policy to rear bulls destined for the bullfighting rings of Spain.
Vowing that the fight to defend animal rights in Europe isn't over, Mr Smith said: "We are now closer than ever before to ending EU subsidies for this barbaric and outdated sport. The European Parliament has made a political statement against the indirect subsidising of bullfighting with EU money."
Market round-up
THE Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart had 28 prime cattle forward in Dumfries on Wednesday when heifers sold to 231.5p per kg and averaged 209p, while bullocks peaked at 198.5p and levelled at 195.1p.
There were 85 OTM cattle presented in the rough ring when beef cows averaged 118.2p and dairy cows levelled at 87.2p.
The firm also sold 1557 prime lambs to a top of £78 per head and 209p per kg to average 155.7p (+4.9p on the week).
The 721 cast sheep forward saw heavy ewes sell to £105.50 for Texels and average £63.96 (-£2.31), while light ewes peaked at £74.50 for Cheviots and levelled at £44.30 (+£3.93).
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1090 prime lambs in Newton Stewart on Wednesday to £75 and 185p to average 157.2p (+9p).
There were also 405 cast sheep forward when ewes sold to £76.50 for Texel crosses and £59 for Blackfaces.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article