The inclusion of rumen fluke figures in faecal egg count sample results is not necessarily a cause for concern, according to experts in the Control of Cattle Parasites Sustainably (COWS) and Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) groups. COWS and SCOPS has been working hard to encourage livestock producers to use faecal egg counts (FECs) … Continued
Although, as forecast, cases of disease due to liver fluke have remained relatively low so far this winter, there are reports of both acute and chronic disease in some areas of the UK. This means livestock farmers must not drop their guard, warn experts in the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control … Continued
Routine testing of cattle dung for roundworm eggs throughout the summer has led to less use of wormers, reducing cost and the stress and effort of rounding up first season grazers, on three cattle farms near Preston in the North West of England. All three farmers, clients of vet Rob Howe of LLM Farm Vets … Continued
The level of liver fluke is forecast to be relatively low for much of the UK, but the risk to grazing livestock on individual farms is becoming less predictable. That is the warning from experts in the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Cattle Parasites Sustainably (COWS) groups, who say diagnostic … Continued
A new practical guide on how to control liver fluke on beef and sheep farms has been published. Compiled by leading liver fluke experts, independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings, Dr Philp Skuce of the Moredun Research Institute and COWS member Professor Diana Williams of the University of Liverpool, the booklet has been written and produced … Continued
Cattle worming experts are urging farmers to test animals before giving anthelmintics at or around housing this year, to check if they are really needed. Unnecessary blanket treatments are a waste of farmers’ time, effort and money and can encourage anthelmintic resistance, meaning products may not work in future. Traditionally first season grazing dairy calves … Continued
Recent discussions with experts at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), have raised concerns around potential issues of grazing cattle in late summer and autumn 2022. Farmers are warned to remain vigilant for signs of lungworm following reports of coughing in grazing cattle, consistent with lungworm infection. Outbreaks can … Continued
Tick (Ixodes ricinus) activity is expected to peak in some areas of Great Britain in the next few weeks. Ticks can transmit several infections such as bovine babesiosis (redwater), which can lead to severe, sometime fatal disease. Farmers in areas with a history of redwater may wish to take extra precautions to protect susceptible stock … Continued
Giving first season grazing calves a lungworm vaccine before turnout will protect them against potentially lethal disease and reduce any economic losses due to ill-health, according to the Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) group. “There is no way to predict easily when lungworm will hit and waiting until coughing starts later in the season is … Continued
Most current control strategies against gut worms, lung worm and liver fluke rely on the use of wormers applied to entire groups of animals at pre-determined times of the year. On many farms the same products have been used at the same time every year, for more than a decade. But cattle vet Rob Howe, … Continued