Sheep Dipping

During sheep dipping—a process where sheep are immersed in chemical baths to eliminate external parasites like mites and lice—care is taken to prevent the animals from inhaling or ingesting the solution.

Sheep have a natural reflex to hold their breath when submerged, and skilled handlers use this to quickly and smoothly submerge each animal, including the head, for just a few seconds.

The dipping solution is typically organophosphate or synthetic pyrethroid-based, and respiratory exposure can be harmful, so the brief immersion is timed carefully.

Properly designed dipping tanks also allow sheep to exit rapidly to minimize stress and the risk of aspiration.