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

We are launching updated COWS chapters from the COWS Guide - last done in 2014! Thanks to Prof. Diana Williams & Er… https://t.co/VCqyJLJ706

Cattle Parasites @COWSworms

PhD student @rc_hoyle is doing an online survey of cattle farmers to capture awareness of liver and rumen fluke & e… https://t.co/uNzLdhYsJH

Cattle Parasites @COWSworms

Happy New Year! Here's to a healthy, parasite-free 2020! Always follow the five 'R's - Right animal, Right product… https://t.co/d84aIvBDal

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