Kilmacolm Farm Tours - Dipping Sheep

Its Baaaaaaath time!

It is estimated that since the elimination of compulsory dipping in 1992, there has been a 60-fold increase in sheep scab on UK farms. Dipping targets external parasites and is the only way to control scab, ticks, lice, blowfly and keds with one product. The scab mite can survive off-fleece in clumps of wool for up to 17 days. Dipping gives protection against scab for longer than the 17 days, thus allowing for complete elimination in closed flocks.

James dips our sheep twice - once at the end of July and once at the end of October. He must hold a licence to be able to order dip and carry out the dipping. Full Personal Protective clothing must be worn and the dip must be disposed of on a ‘safe’ area of land licenced by Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)