Things to do now

Always read the label and ask advice from a vet, vet pharmacist or SQP before deciding which product to use

Things to do now

Always weigh cattle or use a weigh band to calculate the correct dose for each animal

Things to do now

Check meat and milk withdrawal periods for each product before administration

Things to do now

For advice on managing parasite infections in sheep visit www.scops.org.uk

What is COWS?

Control Of Worms Sustainably (COWS) is a voluntary initiative aiming to provide the best available, evidence-based information to the beef and dairy cattle industries in relation to the sustainable control of both internal and external parasites.

COWS funders

As a voluntary initiative, COWS is kindly funded by: AgriSearch, AHDB, AHDA, AHDB Beef & Lamb, AHDB Dairy, AMTRA, HCC, NFU, NOAH and QMS. COWS also works closely with SCOPS.

Latest Tweets:

Cattle Parasites @COWSworms

RT @AgriSearchNI: Consider treating cattle at housing to get on top of liver fluke https://t.co/fzsg3zQHqH @COWSworms https://t.co/9eY9Ipj…

Cattle Parasites @COWSworms

We have just issued a press release calling on farmers to consider treating cattle just after housing to get of top… https://t.co/sKPNsqBAY8

Cattle Parasites @COWSworms

RT @AMTRASQP: The Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and (@COWSworms) groups are urging sheep and cattle farmers to monitor…

Things to do now

Steps you should be taking now to protect your herd

Beef

Treat youngstock at housing for gut worms using a product that contains a macrocyclic lactone (ML) to kill off inhibited Ostertagia worms to reduce the risk of Type 2 ostertagiosis. Adult cattle should not require any treatment for gut worms, but may benefit from treatment if in poor condition. Consider diagnostic tests in older stock. Blood tests are available. Speak to your vet about these

There is no natural immunity to liver fluke, so all ages of stock must be assessed for treatment where there is a history, or risk of infection. Check fluke forecasts now. Use abattoir returns to monitor presence of fluke

The presence of fluke eggs in faeces can indicate liver fluke infection. Check to see if treatment is required

Dairy

Treat youngstock at housing for gut worms using a product that contains a macrocyclic lactone (ML) to kill off inhibited Ostertagia worms to reduce the risk of Type 2 ostertagiosis. Adult cattle should not require any treatment for gut worms, but may benefit from treatment if in poor condition. Consider diagnostic tests in older stock. Milk and blood tests are available. Speak to your vet about these

Take a bulk milk sample and test by ELISA to establish if the milking herd has been exposed to liver fluke. Or eggs can be detected in a faecal sample

There is no natural immunity to liver fluke, so all ages of stock must be assessed for treatment where there is a history, or risk of infection. Check fluke forecasts now. Use abattoir returns to monitor presence of fluke