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SCOPS warns about closantel overdosing
An overdose of closantel can cause blindness in sheep.
The advice follows recent reports of overdoses in sheep.

Sheep farmers need to be careful when using flukicides and wormers which contain closantel, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group has warned.

Closantel, an active ingredient in a range of antiparasitic products, is safe to use when the label instructions are followed and animals are dosed according to their weight.

However, SCOPS has reported that it has been made aware of a few recent cases in which sheep have received an overdose of the drug, causing blindness for the animals involved.

SCOPS spokesperson Lesley Stubbings said: “Because of the risks posed by overdosing with closantel, SCOPS urges sheep farmers to split a group if the weight variation is large, grouping sheep into weight bands and altering the dose rate accordingly. That is safer than dosing to the heaviest animal and administering too much closantel to small animals.

“Closantel is an important active in the control of internal parasites. This isn’t a recommendation to avoid the product – just a reminder of the risks of not weighing animals and giving them too much.”

Any farmers or veterinary professionals who see an adverse reaction to closantel in sheep are urged by SCOPS to report it to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.