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→Dipping
* The dip tank should have a ledge so that the sheep must jump in and swim to the far end to aid in coverage of the ectoparisiticide. For sheep scan control it is important the every animal has their head submerged.
* The dip tank should have a ledge so that the sheep must jump in and swim to the far end to aid in coverage of the ectoparisiticide. For sheep scan control it is important the every animal has their head submerged.
* A final draining pen, where the sheep can let the excess ectoparisticide drain off back into the tank prior to turn out.
* A final draining pen, where the sheep can let the excess ectoparisticide drain off back into the tank prior to turn out.
Other important things for the farmer to consider are:
* The volume of the dip tank; this must be known to prepare the correct concentration of product.
* Some product are absorbed to the skin or wool of the sheep and so the tank concentration will become weaker, '''exhaustion'''. '''Replenishment''' must occur at regular intervals to thus maintain a constant concentration.
* Products of the same active ingredient shouldn't be used together as they may break and form a toxic layer of compound.
* The life time of a product can be limited by any bacterial contamination.
As the process of dipping is both dangerous to the sheep and handler a set of legal requirements have been put in place, these are:
* A certificate of competence in the UK is needed to purchase and handle sheep-dip and a COSSH risk assessment must be performed before dipping.
* Protective clothing must be worn.
* There are specific ways od disposing of sheep dip, please see the Defra website for more information; http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/ground/sheepdip/index.htm
==Problems with Ectoparasiticides==