Scottish Government funding has been secured for a new pilot project to help control Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma (OPA) and reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions caused by the disease, within the national sheep flock.

The pilot has been co-developed with the Scottish industry-led OPA Working Group to address issues raised by the industry and will increase the number of veterinary practitioners with the skills to recognise signs of OPA in live sheep through ultrasound scanning.

READ MORE: SRUC new equipment to tackle methane emissions from sheep

OPA is an infectious lung tumour of sheep, considered an ‘iceberg’ disease in which only a fraction of infected animals in a flock exhibit signs of the disease. It is believed to be widespread in Scottish flocks with estimated losses between 1-5% in affected farms (but could be as high as 20% in the first few years after a flock is newly infected). It severely affects the health and welfare of infected animals. There is currently no vaccine, routine diagnostic tests, or treatment for OPA.

Research suggests that OPA adversely affects GHG emissions intensity in sheep.

This new project will put in place the necessary infrastructure, equipment, and training to allow for the control of OPA within the national sheep flock.

In addition to increasing the efficiency of sheep farming and reducing its carbon footprint, controlling OPA will improve animal health and welfare and support the rural economy. Sheep rearing is especially important in areas of land with marginal use for any other form of food production.

Sheep keepers will benefit through earlier diagnosis and interventions, allowing for affected animals to be culled and removed from flocks at an earlier stage, which will prevent undiagnosed animals from being sold onto other farms and potentially spreading disease.

The project will allow farmers across Scotland to select OPA as a control as part of the animal health and welfare interventions (or standards/conditions) under future agricultural and rural support in Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF).

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands said this initiative will improve the health and welfare of our Scottish flock whilst also reducing greenhouse gas emissions by improving the efficiency of production and reducing losses.