Sheep Dipping: A Complete Guide for Sheep Farmers

Sheep dipping involves submerging sheep in a specially formulated solution to protect them from parasites and other diseases. It is considered crucial to maintain a healthy and productive flock. And let’s be honest… We all know that there is nothing more annoying than having a flock that suffers from parasites.

When sheep dipping is done correctly, it will keep your animals healthy, improve wool quality and potentially increase the profitability of your farm. Here we’ll cover reasons to dip sheep, the diseases and parasites it helps to prevent, the importance of dipping and the needed equipment for sheep dipping.

Why Sheep Dipping is Essential

Sheep are vulnerable to a variety of external parasites and diseases. These can negatively impact their health, productivity, and wool quality. Sheep dipping is one of the most effective ways to control and prevent your animals from external parasites like sheep scab mites, lice, ticks, and blowfly larvae.

• Sheep Scab: Caused by the Psoroptes ovis mite, sheep scab leads to intense itching, wool loss, and weight loss. Untreated infestations can spread rapidly through the flock. Find here more information on how to spot the disease.
• Lice: Biting and sucking lice cause irritation, restlessness, and wool damage. In this article you’ll find more information on how to detect sheep lice.
• Tick: Ticks can cause anemia, transmit diseases like tick-borne fever, and lead to poor overall health. On this website you’ll find more about tick diseases and how to control them.
• Blowfly Strike (Myiasis): Blowflies lay eggs in moist, dirty wool, especially around wounds or the rear of the animal. When the eggs hatch, the larvae (maggots) burrow into the sheep’s skin, causing severe pain and infection, which can be fatal if left untreated. Here you’ll find more extensive information about the blowfly strike.

These parasites not only cause distress and suffering to your sheep but also lead to financial losses due to lower weight gain, and increased vet costs.

The Importance of Sheep Dipping

We all know that prevention is better than cure. Therefore, regular sheep dipping is beneficial to control parasites and is beneficial for the overall health and well-being of your flock. Healthy sheep will have higher weight gain, and are more likely to breed successfully. Additionally, sheep dipping reduces the spread of parasites to neighbouring flocks.

We even heard that in some regions, controlling parasites such as sheep scab is a legal requirement. For instance, sheep scab is a notifiable disease in several countries, meaning that if it is detected in your flock, you must report it to the authorities.

Steps for Sheep Dipping

To conduct a successful sheep dipping operation, follow these steps:

1. Make a plan: Organise the dipping at a time when the weather is mild, as cold or wet conditions can stress the sheep post-dip. Ensure all staff involved are trained in handling sheep and using the dipping chemicals.
2. Choose the Right Dip: There are various dips available, such as organophosphate (OP) dips, synthetic pyrethroids, and insect growth regulators. Choose the right one based on the parasites you are targeting, and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding dilution and safety measures.
3. Prepare the Flock: Before dipping, ensure that the sheep are dry and free of injuries, as open wounds can react badly to the dip solution. Gather and inspect the flock beforehand, and separate any sheep that are unwell or require additional treatment.
4. Set Up the Dip Bath: The dip bath or plunge dip should be properly constructed and maintained. Make sure the bath is long enough to allow full submersion of the sheep, with rails or gates to help guide them through the bath.
5. Post-Dipping Care: After dipping, hold the sheep in a pen for about 10-15 minutes allowing the dip to run off. Ensure they are kept in a dry and stress-free environment for a few days post-dipping to prevent complications.

Sheep Dipping Methods

There are several methods for sheep dipping. Here we’ll cover the two most used methods to dip sheep.

Dipping Tank

The dipping tank is by far the most used method for sheep dipping. It is a tank full of specially formulated products. Make sure the dipping tank is long enough and has rails or steps to help guide the sheep through the bath. Before dipping, make sure that the sheep are dry and have no injuries or open wounds as these react badly to the dip solution. After dipping, hold the sheep in a pen for 10-15 minutes to allow the dip to run off. Ensure they are kept in a dry and stress-free environment.

We noticed that this method is very stressful for sheep. It might even be so stressful that the sheep will not run into your race or crowding tub anymore. Luckily, there is a solution for this which we will discuss now.

Sheep Jetter

A Sheep Jetter is an efficient and effective way to wash your sheep. It is way less stressful for sheep compared to sheep dipping and you can wash on average 800 – 1000 sheep per hour with a maximum of 1500 sheep per hour.

We often hear from farmers that the Sheep Jetter will not work because of the density of wool. But that is not true because it in fact is applicable for all types of sheep wool. A case study has shown that the Sheep Jetter was even more effective than a sheep dipping tank. No matter the density of the wool.

Considerations compared to a sheep dipping tank

We have some considerations compared to a sheep dipping tank:

• When the first animal goes into a bath all the affective ingredients in the bath are 100% effective, what happens is organic matter on sheep which is dirt, dust, wool grease, manure breaks down the product
• Each animal that goes through the bath slowly decreases the efficacy of the product i.e. 1st sheep is perfect – sheep number 200 that goes through will not get the same control effect on scabies, lice, fly control as 1st sheep that went though
• Also other negative effects in regards to a bath is sheep that ingest product so other related health effects
• How much longer it takes to dip sheep through a bath
• Disposing of all the old product of a bath

How Often Should You Dip Sheep?

The frequency of dipping depends on several factors, including the local parasite prevalence, seasonality, and the health of your flock. In general:

• Preventative Dipping: In areas with high tick and lice populations, dipping may be required two to four times a year.
• Targeted Dipping: For issues like sheep scab or blowfly strike, it’s often done as needed, depending on infestation signs and veterinary advice.
• Routine Dipping: Many farmers perform routine dipping once or twice a year, typically in spring and autumn, to catch seasonal peaks in parasite activity.

Routine dipping is becoming less common as more farmers switch to targeted treatments and combine it with other control methods like shearing, and regular inspections.

Equipment You Need for Sheep Dipping

To conduct sheep dipping, you’ll need the following equipment:

1. Sheep Handling System: A crowding tub is important to create a good flow. Our crowding tubs are designed in such a way that the animals walk in a natural flow. When you don’t have something setup like this it might be difficult to get the sheep in the dipping tank or sheep jetter.
2. Dipping Tank / Sheep Jetter: Depending on your budget, a dipping tank or sheep jetter is the primary structure used for dipping, allowing the sheep to be fully submerged.
3. Dipping Chemicals: These are the solutions formulated to kill parasites. Common options include organophosphates, synthetic pyrethroids, and insect growth regulators. Always ensure you choose the right chemical for your needs and follow safety guidelines.
4. Protective Equipment: Wear protective clothing, including waterproof gloves, aprons, boots, and masks, to avoid direct contact with the dipping chemicals. Proper safety training is essential as some dip solutions can be toxic to humans.
5. Holding Pens: You’ll need pens for gathering the sheep pre-dip and for holding them post-dip to allow excess dip to drain off before they return to the pasture. You can build strong pens with our sheep hurdles.
6. Inspection and Handling Tools: Include items such as foot shears, spray bottles, and hand treatments to check sheep for other ailments during the dipping process.
7. Water Supply: An ample water supply is essential for mixing the dip solution, as well as cleaning the equipment after the process is complete.

Safety and Environmental Considerations

Safety is paramount when using chemical dips, both for the animals and the people handling them. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines regarding dilution, application, and disposal. Make sure the dipping tank or sheep jetter is positioned away from watercourses to prevent contamination. Dipping chemicals can be toxic to aquatic life. So proper disposal and spill prevention are crucial.

Conclusion

Sheep dipping remains one of the most effective ways to protect your flock from parasites. Furthermore, it improves their health and productivity. By planning ahead, using the right equipment, and following a routine suited to the needs of your flock, you can minimise the risk of infestations and ensure that your sheep remain healthy and productive year-round. Routine dipping will keep your flock in top condition. Earlier we showed that the Sheep Jetter is the solution for efficient dipping!