The Sheep Scab (Shetland Islands) Order 2024 come into operation earlier this month – meaning that from 1st July 2024 imported sheep can be plunge dipped to treat sheep scab.
Dipping is now considered especially important with the mites which cause the disease becoming increasingly resistant to the injectable product used previously to treat sheep scab. The level of risk to Shetland of sheep scab has also increased, with more notifications to the Scottish Government of sheep scab in areas where Shetland farmers and crofters often source stock from: Aberdeenshire, Caithness and Orkney.
A survey carried out on sheep coming into Shetland funded by Livestock Health Scotland in 2022 found 10% of imported sheep tested positive for sheep scab.
Hilary Burgess, Veterinary Advisor to Shetland Islands Council said: “Local crofters and farmers have done a great job at working together to make sure that sheep scab did not enter Shetland flocks before this change. Last year 94% of all sheep imported to Shetland were dipped and 98.6% of imported rams being dipped before or on arrival to Shetland. These are amazing figures for a voluntary dipping scheme, which demonstrates the high level of support for sheep dipping in Shetland.
“Those of us involved in the Shetland Animal Health Scheme (SAHS) would like to thank everyone who has supported these changes to the regulations through the recent consultation. With the majority of the consultation responses (96%) commenting that dipping was necessary to keep Shetland free of sheep scab, such positive local support allowed us to make quick progress on these changes.
More information on what the changes mean for importers of sheep to Shetland, and information on consolidated shipping days, is available on the Council’s website - or by contacting the Shetland Animal Health Scheme at ehadmin@shetland.gov.uk or Shetland Vets on 01595 810456
- The Sheep Scab (Shetland Islands) Order 2024 replaces the previous 2003 Order. Shetland Islands Council has led the recent consultation with the local crofting and farming community to agree changes to the previous legislation. These changes were approved by Councillors and subsequently by Scottish Ministers.