FACILITIES AND SERVICES FOR MEMBERS

Compulsory Sheep Scab Dipping for Dairy Sheep

This has now been discontinued. Dips safe to use with lactating ewes tend only to safeguard against Scab and give poor fly cover. The only dip with a nil withdrawal is Bayticol Scab and Tick Dip which is not an organophosphorus compound. There are dips with a 60 hour withdrawal for milk which do give fly cover.

Wormers for Lactating Ewes

At present there is no anthelmintic wit a nil withdrawal for ewes producing milk for human consumption. It is advised to plan the worming so that it is done before lambing and at the end of lactation. If a ewe breaks down during the milking period use Jannssen's Ovitelmin which is licenced with a 24 hour milk withdrawal.

Use of Antibiotics

As any antibiotic residues in the milk can cause considerable problems for product makers using the milk, at least two extra days of withdrawal should be allowed beyond that recommended for cow milk for intramammary antibiotics before any milk goes for manufacture. The use of injectable antibiotics which circulate in the blood stream usually requires at least a 15 day milk withdrawal for ewes producing milk for human consumption.

Sheep Milk Hygiene Testing

The B.S.D.A. has set very high standards for milk hygiene and members are obliged to have their milk tested regularly. It is not yet obligatory to have Somatic Cell Counts (SCC) done, but high counts may reveal the extent of subclinical mastitis in the flock. Testing can be done by any approved Laboratory and the 1990 Food Act requires you to provide evidence of such regular testing.

Imported Frieslands and Other Rams and Semen

In conjunction with Ian McDougall MRCVS, the B.S.D.A. can provide superior and elite genetic material to improve members' flocks both for up-grading Frieslands or for crossing on to Texels or Dorset Poll/Horn to produce ewe lambs suitable for milking and better quality meat lambs. B.S.D.A. has sponsored a M.O.E.T programme, the first in the world for Dairy sheep, and lambs are available from those flocks involved as well as from imported elite rams and ewes. Other superior rams available are Assaf, Lacaune and British Milk Sheep. A high health status is required to take advantage of these bloodlines.

Inspections

All milking parlours must be inspected by ADAS or its equivalent for which a fee will be charged after the initial inspection and a registration number will be issued.
All premises where milk is handled must be inspected by the local Environmental Health Officer.
All Products will be inspected by both the E.H.O. and the Local Trading Standards Officers.
All weighing machines will be checked by the Weights and Measures Officers.
Any problems with such visits should be refered to LACOTS (Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards) who will give guidance.