Sheep dipping is when farmers immerse sheep in a chemical compound to eliminate sheep scab and other ecto-parasites including ticks, lice and blowfly (5). ... Arsenic based compounds were used up until the 1950's and can still remain in soils surrounding historical sheep dipping baths (6).

Is dipping sheep illegal?

The government has withdrawn all organophosphate sheep dip from sale to protect farmers from exposure to the concentrated chemicals. The government has also stepped up research into physical and mental damage caused by OP exposure. ...

Do sheep need dipping?

While heavily regulated, plunge dipping sheep in organophosphate (OP) can address more than just scab, says contract sheep dipper Neil Fell. “Dipping kills both lice and scab, so by dipping your sheep you have covered both parasites anyway,” he explains. ... “Sheep scab is definitely a worsening problem,” warns Mr Fell.