Sheep scab is caused by infestation with a parasitic mite, which infests the skin’s surface, creating skin lesions and causing severe welfare concerns. EPIC and its partner organisations, including the Moredun Research Institute (MRI) and the James Hutton Institute (JHI), have been essential in developing the research underpinning the Lewis and Harris sheep scab control project, which aims to help control the spread of sheep scab.
After several stakeholder meetings in 2022, there was a clear demand among sheep keepers for combined biosecurity measures, more information on disease, and establishing formal networks. The findings from these meetings and growing interest among crofters allowed researchers to move forward with the project to safeguard sheep health and welfare, and foster collaborative action between crofters, government, academia, industry, and vets.
Phase one of the project involved blood sampling and testing to diagnose sheep scab on Lewis and Harris, while phase two focused on a coordinated plunge-dipping campaign to treat the disease, and follow-up blood testing (ELISA) to ensure that treatments were effective.
The success of the testing and dipping project built trust and strengthened relationships between researchers and sheep keepers. This allowed EPIC researchers to create the Pan-Island Initiative to help build networks among farming communities across the islands, including Lewis & Harris, Orkney and The Shetland Isles.
Building Awareness: Stakeholder Meetings and Workshops (2022)
Stakeholder meetings and workshops through 2022 and 2023 helped to build awareness around opportunities for improving disease control on the islands and potential limitations due to dynamics of marginalisation.
Interviewing thirteen sheep keepers based in Scotland, researchers explored topics including their motivations to keep sheep, where their knowledge of sheep keeping and biosecurity comes from, their networks, and management practices. The results found that while sheep keepers on small holdings are resourceful in finding courses and information on disease and welfare, courses on disease recognition, establishing formal networks and clear biosecurity guidelines would be useful to keep flocks safe.
In October 2022, a series of five workshops were held across Lewis and Harris. Marginalisation, communal management and livestock keeping as a form of cultural heritage were highlighted as key themes. Researchers further explored how to apply these themes to biosecurity to better understand the challenges facing communities, and how the social aspects of these farming systems can impact change to disease control.
Addressing Sheep Scab: Testing and Dipping (2023-2024)
Disease modelling studies within the SRP and EPIC, showed how a highly sensitive and specific blood test (ELISA) could be best applied in field settings to identify sheep scab before appearance of clinical signs.
In February 2023, based on the modelling studies, blood samples from 105 flocks were taken and analysed for sheep scab. Injectable treatments were provided for positive cases and those that had been in close contact with these cases.
Sept-Nov 2023 - Growing interest in the project led to an island-wide coordinated dipping campaign from September to November 2023. An estimated 400 crofters were recruited to the project and collaborative efforts effectively dipped an estimated 30,000 sheep across the island.
Sept-Nov 2024 – Following the success of the first round of coordinated plunge dipping, crofters were keen to repeat the process, embedding these new behaviours into the management of the islands flock. This resulted in a successful second round of plunge dipping with a further 30,000 sheep collectively dipped across the island.
Nov 2023-Jan 2024 - A combination of in-person and online workshops were held with crofters on Lewis and Harris from November 2023 to January 2024, exploring current disease control measures, practices crofters intend to implement in the near future, and those that would be challenging to implement.
Sept-Nov 2025 – Funding for the project ended in March 2025. However, crofters were keen to continue the coordinated plunge dipping and took it upon themselves to arrange a further round of treatments. This resulted in a further 30,000 sheep being collectively dipped across the island and demonstrated how the islands crofters had been empowered to take greater agency over their flock health.
More details about Lewis and Harris dipping and its impact on sheep scab control are available on the EPIC impact page.
Six workshops were held across Lewis and Harris to engage with crofters and gather participants’ reflections on decision support tools (DSTs) and general disease control advice/information. The workshops found that DSTs are useful but need to be developed with specific end users in mind, further highlighting the importance of creating spaces where farmers can be part of co-development.
Building the Pan-Island Initiative (2024-2025)
The Pan-Island Network is a resource built from the work from the Lewis and Harris project. The aim is to create collaborative networks with crofters and farmers to build and maintain a sustainable and resilient livestock sector on the Scottish islands.
In February (2024) six stakeholders from Lewis and Harris and a retired vet involved with the National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS), explored livestock disease control for Lewis and Harris during a visit to the Shetland Isles. The visit highlighted the importance of maintaining and building further links with Shetland.
During the Royal Highland Show 2024 a collaborative stakeholder engagement event was cohosted by EPIC, James Hutton Institute and Moredun Research Institute. Farmers, crofters, industry and Scottish government representatives were invited to attend and provide feedback and reflection of animal disease control within island based livestock holdings.
On February 24 and 25 in 2025, more than twenty farmers, crofters, and livestock representatives from Scotland’s islands met in Inverness for the first Pan-Island Network meeting to discuss animal disease control and develop action plans for the islands. EPIC facilitators successfully led conversations to help the islanders plan future meetings and form lasting connections with one another that will positively impact livestock practices on the islands.
Researchers from EPIC and The James Hutton Institute compiled workshop and interview answers from farmers and crofters to learn more about what biosecurity means to them. As townships have come together to dip thousands of sheep over multiple years, these interventions have encouraged crofters to actively consider island-wide animal disease control, and the challenges and solutions. A growing number of crofters believe control could be put into their hands, and acquiring a dipping facility may be part of developing better island-wide sheep disease control.
Future Planning
The research and leadership on the Lewis and Harris project and the Pan-Island Initiative by EPIC, the James Hutton Institute and Moredun Research Institute researchers has led to renewed understandings and forged new working relationships between researchers, farmers, vets and industry leaders. The social capital built will continue to allow crofters to see the advantages of working together, while showing newcomers the impacts of collective action.
A further round of plunge dipping is now planned for Autumn 2026. This is now entirely supported by the crofters themselves, demonstrating a clear and strong legacy for the project.
Funding
The project was underpinned by research from the Moredun Research Institute (MRI) and the James Hutton Institute (JHI) delivered through previous (2016-2021) and current (2022-2027) Strategic Research Programme (SRP) funding and EPIC CoE. The work also leveraged funds from other funding sources namely SEFARI, Livestock Health Scotland (LHS) and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).
