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Things to do at housing

Steps you should be taking now to protect your herd

Beef

Check if youngstock needs worming for gut worms at housing using faecal egg counts (FECs). If infection risk is high, use a product that contains a macrocyclic lactone (ML) to kill off inhibited Ostertagia worms to reduce the risk of Type ll ostertagiosis later in the winter. Adult cattle should not require any treatment for gut worms.

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 and abattoir returns to monitor presence of fluke

Blood test a group of first season grazing calves (as sentinels) two weeks after housing to check whether they have been in contact with liver fluke in the summer

Dairy

Check if youngstock needs worming for gut worms at housing using faecal egg counts (FECs). If infection risk is high, use a product that contains macrocyclic lactone (ML) to kill off inhibited Ostertagia worms to reduce the risk of Type ll ostertagiosis later in the winter. Adult cattle should not require any treatment for gut worms

Take a bulk milk sample to test if the milking herd has been exposed to liver fluke.

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 and use abattoir returns to monitor presence of fluke

For all editorial enquiries please contact Sara Gregson email: sara@saragregson.co.uk

Wormer resistant lungworm

13th October 2025

In recent research on a farm in Scotland, clinical signs and significant numbers of lungworm larvae were found in bovine faeces after treatment with ivermectin and moxidectin. Lead researcher Paul Campbell from the University of Glasgow reports. Parasitic bronchitis is caused by the bovine lungworm Dictyocaulus viviparus. Infections can cause mild to severe respiratory distress, … Continued

COWS and SCOPS welcome BVA’s latest policy and highlight extent of work already done

11th August 2025

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

Remain vigilant as liverfluke risk extends into spring

19th April 2025

The season for disease due to liver fluke in cattle and sheep has been shifting later, and 2024/5 is no exception warn COWS and SCOPS. “Historically, we would have expected to see acute/sub-acute disease in grazing livestock during the autumn and early winter,” says Philip Skuce of Moredun. “However, in recent years, this has been … Continued

RUMA shines spotlight on COWS

28th February 2025

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 Parasite Control Guide 2025

27th February 2025

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

Updated Veterinary Medicines Regulations