Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Sheep scab in Northern Ireland: Its distribution, costs and farmer knowledge about prevention and control

Crawford, Paul E.; Hamer, Kim; Lovatt, Fiona; Robinson, Philip A.

Authors

Paul E. Crawford

Kim Hamer

Fiona Lovatt

Philip A. Robinson



Abstract

Sheep scab (psoroptic mange), which is endemic in the United Kingdom (UK) flock, has a significant, negative impact on sheep welfare. Nothing has previously been published about the distribution of sheep scab in Northern Ireland (NI), nor about Northern Irish farmers’ knowledge and behaviours relating to the disease, its treatment, prevention and control. Between March and June 2021 an online questionnaire on the disease was completed by sheep farmers in NI. Forty-four respondents out of a total of 122 valid returns (36%) indicated that they had at least one outbreak of sheep scab in their flock within the previous five years. These flocks were spread throughout NI and included flocks grazing on common land. Farmers reporting sheep scab in their flock considered movements of sheep between flocks to be the main cause of flock infestation. Respondents demonstrated knowledge gaps in relation to the parasite biology, disease transmission, prevention and treatment options, as well as a lack of awareness of some of the relevant industry guidelines. We highlight that some farmers rely on clinical signs alone to rule out the possibility that newly purchased sheep are infested with sheep scab before mixing them with their flock. This activity poses a high risk for the introduction of sheep scab into previously uninfested flocks. The inadequacy of some farmers’ quarantine rules, or their inability to follow them, was also reported by farmers as being the cause of their flock infestation. Sheep scab outbreaks were shown to result in significant financial cost, with some farmers reporting their most recent outbreak had cost over £2500 ($3329). The paper also highlights that in addition to the animal health and welfare impact and financial cost, sheep scab was reported to have a social cost: 94 respondents (79%) agreed that a sheep scab outbreak caused emotional stress to affected farmers. These findings have provided evidence of the widespread nature of sheep scab in the NI flock, and of the knowledge gaps and behaviours which need to be addressed to improve sheep scab control. This will require a combination of focused research, knowledge exchange between farmers, advisors, policy makers and regulators, and co-developed disease control plans at a flock and national level.

Citation

Crawford, P. E., Hamer, K., Lovatt, F., & Robinson, P. A. (2022). Sheep scab in Northern Ireland: Its distribution, costs and farmer knowledge about prevention and control. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 205, 105682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105682

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 24, 2022
Online Publication Date May 30, 2022
Publication Date 2022-08
Deposit Date May 3, 2024
Journal Preventive Veterinary Medicine
Print ISSN 0167-5877
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 205
Pages 105682
Series Title Preventive Veterinary Medicine
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105682
Public URL https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/823499
Additional Information This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Sheep scab in Northern Ireland: Its distribution, costs and farmer knowledge about prevention and control; Journal Title: Preventive Veterinary Medicine; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105682; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.