The Tupping Checklist
Everything the ewes and the tups need before the raddle goes on — from condition and flushing through trace elements and the tup MOT to marking and handling. Tick it, add quantities, and hand it in or read it down the phone.
Count Back From the Day the Tups Go Out
Pick your date and work backwards. Most of this is done at gathers you are already doing — the point is to do the right job at each one. The full reasoning is in the tupping guide.
Score, Sort and Decide
Body condition score every ewe by hand at weaning. Batch them thin, fit and fat, and give the thin ones the best grass.
Give the tups their MOT — teeth, toes, testicles, tone. Sperm takes six to seven weeks to develop, so a problem found now can still be fixed. Buy replacement tups now, so they have time to settle and quarantine.
Test Before You Treat
A forage mineral analysis or blood samples for cobalt, selenium and iodine — supplement on evidence, not habit. A faecal egg count on the ewes: fit adult ewes rarely need a pre-tupping wormer.
Abortion vaccines are vet-only and go in well ahead of the tups, so the vet sets the date. Footbath the flock and treat the lame.
Build Condition
Thin ewes onto the best grazing, and blocks or licks out where grass quality is falling. Tups on the same nutrition — they are half the lamb crop.
Bought-in replacements start their clostridial and pasteurella course; the SQP will set it against the date the tups go in. Plan the autumn fluke treatment with your SQP.
Trace Elements In
Bolus the ewes at a gather before the tups go out, so status is lifted before they start cycling. Copper only on evidence — Texel and Suffolk types accumulate it fast.
Flush, Harness, Raddle
A high-energy lick in front of the ewes from two weeks before tupping, and kept there through implantation. Harnesses on the tups a few days early; crayons and raddle to hand.
Change the raddle colour every 14 to 17 days, light to dark. Then leave the ewes alone for three to four weeks: no gathering, no dosing, no sudden change of field or feed.
Which medicine, how much and when are for an SQP or your vet, set for your own flock — not read off a page.
Everything on the Tupping List
Tick as you go and note quantities. Nothing here submits anywhere — it is a list to work through, print, or read down the phone. Prices on application.
1. Ewe Condition & Flushing
7 products
| ✓ | Product | Pack | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20kg · 80kg | |||
| 25kg | |||
| 20kg | |||
| 25kg | |||
| — | |||
| — | |||
| — |
2. Trace Elements
8 products
| ✓ | Product | Pack | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 boluses | |||
| 40 boluses | |||
| Each | |||
| 2.5L · 5L | |||
| 2.5L · 5L | |||
| 250 capsules | |||
| Pack | |||
| Pack |
3. Tups & Feet
7 products
| ✓ | Product | Pack | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerosol | |||
| Each | |||
| Each | |||
| Tin or tub | |||
| Each | |||
| — | |||
| 25kg |
4. Vaccines
3 products
Licensed medicines. An SQP has to know about the flock before supplying these — bring the weights and what you used last time, or phone ahead.
| ✓ | Product | Pack | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | |||
| — | |||
| — |
5. Fluke Treatments
8 products
Licensed medicines. An SQP has to know about the flock before supplying these — bring the weights and what you used last time, or phone ahead.
| ✓ | Product | Pack | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L · 4L | |||
| 2.5L · 5L | |||
| — | |||
| — | |||
| 5L | |||
| 2.2L · 5L | |||
| — | |||
| — |
6. Wormers
5 products
Licensed medicines. An SQP has to know about the flock before supplying these — bring the weights and what you used last time, or phone ahead.
| ✓ | Product | Pack | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L · 10L | |||
| 2.5L · 5L | |||
| — | |||
| — | |||
| — |
7. Scab, Lice & Ticks
5 products
Licensed medicines. An SQP has to know about the flock before supplying these — bring the weights and what you used last time, or phone ahead.
| ✓ | Product | Pack | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50ml · 200ml | |||
| 50ml · 200ml · 500ml | |||
| — | |||
| 5L | |||
| 5L |
8. Marking, Handling & Dosing
6 products
| ✓ | Product | Pack | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 450ml | |||
| 5L | |||
| 4ft · 6ft | |||
| 400ml | |||
| Each | |||
| Pack |
The Medicines on This List Go Through an SQP
The vaccines, fluke treatments, wormers and scab, lice and tick products above are licensed medicines. They are supplied by a vet, a pharmacist, or a Suitably Qualified Person — registered and examined through AMTRA — and some need a vet’s prescription.
That is why an SQP will ask about the flock before supplying: how many, what weights, what you used last time and whether it worked. It is the same information that stops you buying something that will not do the job. Every store — Ayr, Kinross, Lanark & Stirling — has more than one SQP, and every one of our field reps is one too.
We do not publish dosing rates or treatment intervals on this website. Bring the weights and the history to the counter, or phone ahead, and the SQP will take it from there.
Tupping, Asked and Answered
Can I order straight from the McCaskie tupping checklist?
Yes. Tick what you need and add quantities, then hand the printed list in at any of the four stores, give it to your rep, phone it through, or photograph it and send it to your rep. Prices are on application.
Do you have all of this in stock at my store?
Stock varies between the four stores and some of the bigger items are ordered in. Phone ahead if you are travelling a distance or need something for a specific date — the store numbers are on the store finder.
Can I buy sheep vaccines, wormers and fluke treatments online?
No. They are licensed medicines and are supplied by an SQP, a vet or a pharmacist after a conversation about the flock. Come into any of the four stores or phone and ask for the SQP.
Is there a printed version?
Yes — printed copies of the tupping list are on the counter at Ayr, Kinross, Lanark & Stirling. You can also print this page straight from your browser; it is laid out to print as an order form.
Where is the advice on condition scoring, flushing and raddle?
On the tupping guide: the count-back timeline, condition targets, the tup MOT, trace elements, quarantine for bought-in stock and the raddle colours.
Get the Ewes Ready Before the Tups Go In
Phone your store, come in and one of the team will make the order up with you, or ask your rep to go through the list on the farm. Every store has more than one SQP for the medicines on the list.