SCOPS launches Nematodirus Hatching Forecast 2026

Kevin Harrison, SCOPS chairman and South Gloucestershire sheep farmer, said that this free online tool has proved to be an invaluable resource for many producers, vets and advisers for a number of years. 

“For 2026 we have made some improvements, which we hope will make it even more helpful when deciding if and when lambs may need a treatment”.  

Independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings added: “Nematodirus battus, the parasite that causes nematodirosis, can be a tricky call for sheep farmers because it has a different lifecycle to other worms.  

“Eggs overwinter on ground grazed by lambs the previous year and then hatch the following spring once the air temperature exceeds 10°C. If this happens, we can see a ‘mass hatch’, and farmers must act quickly to avoid losses in groups of vulnerable lambs.  

“The Hatching Forecast provides warning of when this is likely to occur, and because this can vary by several weeks between years, the forecast is an essential tool.”  

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What’s the forecast?

The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) Nematodirus Hatching Forecast is an interactive map updated daily using data from 140 weather stations.  

Farmers, vets and advisers can select their nearest or most representative weather station and use the coloured symbol warning system to quickly check the level of risk. The forecast also provides guidance on management actions and treatment options. 
 
This year, users will find a short video to help them navigate the forecast and a link to more detailed information on the webpage. Users are also encouraged to carry out a risk assessment of their groups of lambs before moving to the forecast for their preferred weather station.  

More detailed guidance under the coloured symbols and a clear indication of when a weather station has gone past peak hatching by using a different-shaped symbol are additional new features.   
 
A recording of a webinar held on 25th February, covering how to use the forecast, information on Nematodirus and practical case studies, is available on YouTube here. 

The SCOPS Nematodirus Forecast is supported by Bimeda and Techion (FECPAK). 

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