Members of the groups Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) and Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS), welcome the recognition by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) of the need for a cohesive strategy to tackle future parasiticide resistance, with the publication of their new policy on responsible use of parasiticides in grazing animals (July 2025). … Continued
The Responsible Use of Medicines (RUMA) group is highlighting the work and role of COWS in its latest ‘responsible medicines in focus’ campaigns. In this series, RUMA takes a look at the history of the COWS group and talks to key members of the current steering group, including former farmer member Mark Jelley, current farmer … Continued
AHDB has published its Parasite Control Guide for 2025. View it here This useful document, updated annually, lists all the anthelmintic products available to buy to use on cattle, including Group 1 Benzimidazoles, Group 2 Levamisoles, Group 3 Macrocyclic Lactones, combination products, flukicides and ectoparasiticides. Choosing the right product and getting the most from it … Continued
New Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMRS) came into force in May and November last year. The 2024 Regulations amend the 2013 Regulations, so formally it is the 2013 Regulations (as amended) that are in force: any references to the 2013 Regulations should be taken to be the amended version. Note that the 2024 amendments to the 2013 … Continued
The very limited number of flukicides available to treat cattle and sheep in the UK means it’s essential for farmers, vets and advisers to fully understand their product choices, say the Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) and Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) groups. Experts on the two groups say the key to choosing … Continued
AMTRA has published bluetongue podcast to support SQPs/RAMAs on the frontline of product prescription and supply in giving the best possible advice to farmers A new podcast has been released by AMTRA entitled ‘Information on bluetongue for prescribing SQPs’Bluetongue podcast – AMTRA. Even though the weather has been colder at times recently, cases of bluetongue … Continued
The number of positive liver fluke cases is beginning to rise, in line with the statement made by the Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) and the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) groups in October that, after a wet, mild summer and autumn, livestock farmers could be facing a high challenge for some areas. … Continued
A new, pen-side test will help farmers make decisions whether to treat for liver fluke or not. The temptation for many farmers is to react to warnings of high liver fluke risk by routinely treating with flukicides. However, without risk assessment and appropriate testing, they cannot know when, or even if, they need to treat … Continued
A recent study conducted by scientists at the University of Dundee in collaboration with Moredun Scientific has revealed a potential breakthrough in the treatment of Cryptosporidiosis in calves. This parasitic infection, caused by Cryptosporidium parvum, is a significant concern for farmers, particularly as it leads to severe diarrhoea in young livestock and can result in … Continued
Parasitologists at Moredun have released a new, enhanced version of ‘FEC Check’ for interpreting faecal egg counts (FEC) from cattle. The farmer-facing, free, online tool helps with the interpretation of faecal egg count results for roundworms and provides lots of information on testing and the use of wormers (anthelmintics). Parasitologists at Moredun have further developed … Continued