The following is posted at the request of a concerned sheep farmer who recognises the impracticality of the instruction approved for the new "improved" OP Sheep Dips.

Cooper's Ectoforce sheep dips-data sheet-UK
COOPERS ECTOFORCE ^TM Sheep Dip

Presentation
An emulsifiable dip concentrate with a yellow colour and distinct odour, containing diazinon 60 percent w/w.

Uses
For the prevention and treatment of blow fly strike, ticks, keds, lice, and scab infestations on sheep.

Dosage and administration

To prepare the Bath:
Check that the Bath is clean and only use clean water. Prepare the bath and mix in the dip concentrate on the day of dipping. Use a container of known volume to calibrate an appropriate volume in the bath. The calibrated volume should be an extract multiple of 150 litres.

Fill the dip bath with water to the accurately calibrated level. To prevent overspill do not fill the bath to capacity and make sure you allow for displacement by the sheep. Surge baffles can help prevent spillage.

Follow the instructions for dispensing the dip safely.

Initial fill.
To treat sheep scab, blow fly strike, ticks, keds and lice the product must be used at a concentration of 0.04% w/w diazinon. This concentration of diazinon is achieved by adding the required number of 100 ml packs to the dip bath. The required number of packs can be calculated as follows or by using the dip calculator provided with the product:

Remove the aluminium foil bags from the pack . open the bags by way of the tear strip at the top of each bag. Do not use scissors, a knife or any sharp implement to open the bag. Remove the inner page from each bag and place it carefully on a dry, flat, surface near the dip.

Before opening the pouch visually examining the leakage of product from the inner water soluble sachet. Should there be leakage into the pouch then under NO circumstances should the pouch be opened but instead take the entire pack back to where you bought it.

Open each pouch using the tear strip. Do not use scissors, a knife or any sharp implement to open the pouch. Keeping the pouch with the opening uppermost go immediately to the dip bath, invert the pouch and drop the inner water soluble sachet into the dip bath at a distance from the water surface of no more than six inches. This is to prevent splashing. Hold the handle of the pouch while you drop the sachet into the dip bath.
It is important that you do not touch the water soluble sachet and that it does not come into contact with water before it goes into the dip bath as this could cause it to dissolve prematurely.

Continue to add all the required number of sachets to the dip bath in the same manner. The water soluble sachets will float on the surface of the dip bath and the speed at which they release the product will depend on water temperature. Do not attempt to hasten the process by touching the sachets. After at least five-minutes has elapsed and the sachets have released the product, mix the dip by stirring thoroughly with a metal rod, preferably with a paddle attachment. Dipping should not proceed until the sachets have fully dissolved and the dip has been thoroughly mixed.

Always remember to mix both after the initial fill and after each replenishment.

To replenish the bath

Baths less than 2250 litres (500 gallons)

Add 200 ml (2 x 100 ml packs) of dip after every 40 sheep dip at and fill the bath with water to its original level.

Baths of 2250 litres (500 gallons) or more

Add 500 ml (5 x 100 ml packs) of dip after every 100 sheep dipped and fill the bath with water to its original level.

When adding the required number of packs to the dip bath follow the same directions as for the Initial Fill.

For sheep scab all parts of the animal, except the head and ears, should remain under the dip wash mixture for least a minute.

Plunge the head under at least twice, allowing time for the animal to breathe between plunges.

For blow fly strike, ticks, keds and lice infestations, animals should remain in the dip bath for least half a minute and the head should be plunged once.

To control ticks, dip ewes in spring before lambing. If the infestation is severe, dip again six weeks later (excluding young lambs). Hoggs and other sheep should be dipped as soon as possible after ticks appear.

After dipping, all sheep should stand in draining pens for not less than 10 minutes or until they have completely stopped dripping.

If large amounts of scum form on the surface of the bath skim it off and place in a secure container. This must be clearly marked and disposed of safely (see "DISPOSAL" below).

Fouling of the dip wash reduces dip effectiveness. Therefore, do not dip more than one sheep per 2 litres of dip wash that was in the bath at the start of dipping. For example, if the total volume of wash in your dip bath was 1000 litres (220 gallons) you should not dip more than 500 sheep no matter how many times you have replenished and topped up the bath (see above). You should then empty, clean and recharge the bath with fresh dip wash.

Post-dipping lameness may occur when sheep are dipped in dirty wash or in wash that has stood overnight.

Sheep should have at least three weeks growth of wool after shearing when they are dipped, to obtain good residual protection.

Contra-indications, warnings, etc
General precautions: Sheep should never be dipped on a full stomach, when the wool is wet, or when they are heated, tired, thirsty, or suffering from wounds or open sores.

Choose a cool dry day and dip early in the morning.

Rams and fat sheep should be assisted through the bath and lambs dipped separately from the ewes.

Care should be taken to ensure that the sheep do not swallow or inhale any wash.

As this is an organophosphorus sheep dip, an interval of at least 14 days should elapse between dipping and dosing with any drench, etc. containing levamisole or an organophosphorus compound.

To avoid Post-dipping lameness

Post-dipping lameness may occur when the sheep are dipped in dirty wash, or wash which has been allowed to stand in the bath overnight or longer. It is important that the dip Bath should be emptied and thoroughly clean and the end of each day's dipping or earlier if it becomes very dirty during the day's dipping.

Care should be taken not to overdose.
Overdosing may invalidate the stated meat withholding times as indicated below.

Protection of consumers: Sheep may be slaughtered for human consumption only after 35 days from the last treatment.

Not suitable for use on sheep that are being milked for human consumption.

Protection of operators: Use Tear Strip to open the foil bag. DO NOT use scissors, a knife or any sharp implement.
Do not use product if liquid has leaked from the water soluble sachet into the clear protective pouch. Instead take it back in its original packaging to where you bought it.
Product should be used immediately after opening the clear protective pouch.
Protective clothing must be worn when handing the product packaging and when opening the pack.
Prior to use store in original container.
Diazinon is an organophosphorus compound. Do not use if under medical advice not to work with such compounds. If you have previously felt unwell after using a product containing an organophosphorus compound, consult your doctor before working with this product and show the doctor the product label.

When handing concentrate including dip replenishment:
Use only the dip Bath that is well-designed and hazard free.
Check that all those involved in dipping operations are adequately trained and competent.
Keep children well away from all dipping operations.
Make sure that everyone has the recommended protective clothing and insist that they wear it. Ensure you have spare protective clothing available in case any items become damaged.
The recommended protective clothing is:-

Face Shield (when handling dip concentrate). Bib apron (over boiler suit) or waterproof coat (PVC or nitrile). Gloves (non-lined or flock-lined, PVC or nitrile, heavy-duty golden style - 0.5 mm thick and at least 300 mm long). Waterproof leggings/trousers (PVC or nitrile to be worn outside your boots). Wellington boots.

When working with diluted dips and freshly dipped sheep: Dipping should be carried out in a well ventilated area, preferably outdoors.
Before leaving the work area wash and remove protective clothing and do not smoke, drink, eat or use the toilet during dipping operations.
Always wash hands, face and exposed skin immediately after leaving the work area.
Protective clothing should be washed each day after dipping operations to prevent buildup of chemicals in the material. Wash dipping equipment after use. Check and replace any worn or damaged items protective clothing.
Immediately wash off sheep dip particularly dip concentrate, if it gets on your skin or in your eyes.
Immediately remove heavily contaminated clothes and wash contaminated area of skin-see further instructions below under "MEDICAL ADVICE TO USERS". Wash or destroy heavily contaminated clothes immediately.
Use during pregnancy and lactation: there have been no reported complications in pregnancy or lactation.
If dipping a pregnant sheep is essential, they should be gently lowered into the Bath and assisted out.
Handling sheep in the week following dipping: it is good practice not to shear sheep in the 3 months after dipping. Handle sheep as little as possible after dipping as dip residues remain on the sheep for some weeks. If you need to handle sheep, were coveralls and wellington boots. If the sheep are wet also wear waterproof trousers and coat. Always wash hands with soap and water after handling sheep or fleece and before eating, drinking or smoking.

Medical advice to users: If you feel unwell after using this product consult your doctor and show your doctor this label. Treat any cases of heavy contamination as an emergency. You should go straight to hospital after removing contaminated clothing, and rinse with plenty of water areas of skin which came into contact with sheep dip.
If sheep dip has been swallowed go straight to hospital and take this label with you.

Medical advice to doctors: Poisoning from organophosphorus compounds in sheep dips results from blockage of acetylcholinesterase, with the resultant over-activity of acetylcholine.
Symptoms include headache, exhaustion and weakness, mental confusion together with blurred vision, excessive salivation and sweating, cramp like abdominal pain, chest tightness, diarrhoea, constricted pupils, and bronchorrhoea. Those may develop for up to 24 hours after exposure.
Severe poisoning can include general muscle twitching, loss of co-ordination, extreme difficulty with breathing and convulsions which may lead to unconsciousness in the absence of medical treatment. Treat symptomatically and seek urgent hospital transfer if poisoning is suspected.
Advice is available from the National Poisons Information Service. (Either access TOXBASE on the Internet/NHS web at http://www.spib.axl.co.uk or telephone: 0870 600 6266) . Further information for health professionals is contained in MS 17 entitled "Medical aspects of work-related exposure to organophosphates" and is available from HSE books on Tel: 01787 881165 or fax 01787 313 995.

Environmental warnings: Danger to fish and other aquatic life. Do not contaminate surface waters. Harmful to game, wild and domestic birds and mammals. Do not allow access to diluted dip.
It is an offence to permit any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter to enter any river, extreme or water course.

Any unwanted product should be disposed or by a licensed waste disposal contractor.

To dispose of used sheep dip and authorisation and the Groundwater Regulations 1998 is required. To apply for an authorisation contact the Environment Agency (EA) or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) or the Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland (EHS/DENT). Alternatively spent dip wash should be disposed of by a licensed waste disposal contractor.

Hazard warnings: toxic if swallowed. Harmful in contact with skin. Irritating to eyes and skin.
For animal treatment only. For external use only. Keep out of reach of children.
As this is an organophosphorus sheep dip, an interval of at least 14 days should elapse between dipping and dosing with any drench, etc containing levamisole or an organophosphorus compounds.

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