With duck shooting season looming, the meat industry is reminding hunters of the need to treat their dogs for sheep measles, if they are taking them into rural areas.
Sheep measles are not a health issue, but can cost farmers and meat companies dearly, if their lambs are rejected for having cysts from the disease.
Infected dogs can pass the disease onto sheep by excreting eggs from the sheep measles tapeworms they carry. The eggs can remain on pasture for four to six months and can be spread over large areas by wind.
Ovis Management Ltd project manager Dan Lynch said dog owners can break that infection cycle by dosing their dogs at least 48 hours before taking them onto farms.
That's a simple matter of buying some tablets from the vet.
