News

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

VMD to conduct research on anthelmintic prescribing practices

1st September 2026

The Research, Innovation, Sustainability and Evidence team at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is exploring stakeholder perceptions of anthelmintic prescribing and anthelmintic resistance in grazing livestock. The research will focus on SPQs/RAMAs who prescribe wormers for livestock, specifically sheep and cattle, as well as equines. Interviews will follow a semi-strucured format, enabling participants to discuss ... Continued

COWS experts deliver lungworm facts and actions in popular webinar

21st August 2026

COWS steering group members, farm vet Rob Howe, Moredun Research Institute principal research scientist Dr Dave Bartley and farm vet Anuschka Marsman, reflected on all aspects of lungworm disease on a recent webinar hosted by the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA). This was held in conjunction with the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and ... Continued

Loss of Huskvac a serious concern and threat to sustainable parasite control

10th August 2026

The announcement that Bovilis® Huskvac, the UK’s only licensed lungworm vaccine, will be withdrawn from the market from 2027 comes at precisely the wrong moment for UK cattle farming. Cattle vet and COWS member Rob Howe has written to the editor of the Veterinary Record to air the industry's concerns. Resistance We now know that ... Continued

Bluetongue virus (BTV): clear advice on insecticides and midge control

10th August 2026

The Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) and the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) urge livestock farmers to think twice before applying dips, insecticides or repellents to their livestock in the hope of preventing infection with bluetongue virus (BTV) transmitted by midges. These products are not licensed for this purpose, and there is no ... Continued

Brand new CPD course on IPM for vets and SQPs

20th April 2026

The British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) has launched a brand new training course on Integrated Parasite Management (IPM). Devised by COWS steering group member and cattle vet Rob Howe, the course is supported by COWS. "Parasites are an unavoidable reality of livestock farming, but the way they are managed is due a rethink," says Rob. ... Continued

AHDB Parasite control guide 2026

15th April 2026

AHDB has published its Parasite Control Guide for 2026. Order a printed copy from 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 ... Continued

Things to do in the summer

Steps you should be taking now to protect your herd

Beef

Anthelmintic treatments can be administered to calves strategically during the first half of the grazing season to counter gut worm infections. The frequency of treatment depends on the persistency of the product used – speak to your vet or SQP about this
Giving an early season de-wormer ensures that few gut worm eggs are shed up to mid-summer, by which time any overwintered gut worm larvae present, will have died
Summer is a good time to use faecal egg counts (FECs) to monitor gut worm infection in first and second season grazing calves. Assess condition and weight and provided nutritional needs are being met, consider further investigation if calves are failing to thrive. If FECs come back positive, but below the 200 eggs/gram threshold for treating, test again in two to three weeks, as FECs can rise quickly in July and August
All-group treatments provide strong selection pressure for anthelmintic resistance. An alternative is to take an evidence-based approach and give anthelmintics on information obtained from growth monitoring and faecal egg count (FEC) analysis. Assess the risk with your vet
Graze youngstock on hay and silage aftermaths as they become available, as these fields will have a low parasite burden.
Where calves are grazing infected pasture and testing indicated a need for treatment, do not move them to new pasture immediately after. If they must be moved, leave 10% of the heaviest stock untreated
If concerned about de-wormer treatment failure, check faecal egg counts 14 days post benzimidazole (1-BZ) or ML (3-ML) treatment. Speak to the vet or SQP about this
Insecticide impregnated ear tags, tail bands, pour-on, spot-on and sprays containing pyrethroids can help reduce fly annoyance
Lungworm is not picked up using faecal egg counting, so it is vital to check calves regularly and to look out for signs of coughing. Contact the vet immediately if any coughing is heard
Early autumn is usually a high-risk period for liver fluke infection. Avoid grazing stock on wet areas that can harbor the intermediate host mud snail
Blood test any lambs on the farm (as sentinels) for liver fluke as they can inform the need for, or timing of cattle treatment

Dairy

Summer is a good time to use faecal egg counts (FECs) to monitor gut worm infection in first and second season grazing calves. Assess condition and weight gain and provided nutritional needs are being met, consider further investigation of calves are failing to thrive. If FECs come back positive, but below the 200 eggs/gram threshold for treating, test again in two to three weeks, as FECs can rise quickly in July and August
Anthelmintic treatments can be administered to calves strategically during the first half of the grazing season to counter gut worm infections. The frequency of treatment depends on the persistency of the product used – speak to your vet or SQP about this
Graze youngstock on hay and silage aftermaths as they become available, as these fields will have a low parasite burden
If concerned about de-wormer treatment failure, check faecal egg counts 14 days post benzimidazole (1-BZ) or macrocyclic lactone (3-ML) treatment. Speak to the vet or SQP about this
Insecticide impregnated ear tags, tail bands, pour-on, spot-on and sprays containing pyrethroids can help reduce fly annoyance
None of the flukicides have zero milk withhold and only a few products are licensed for use in milking animals. Some can be used in the dry period. Refer to VMD Guidance Note for products to use
Lungworm is not picked up using faecal egg counting, so it is vital to check calves regularly and to look out for signs of coughing. Contact the vet immediately if any coughing is heard
Early autumn is usually a high risk period for liver fluke infection. Avoid grazing stock on wet areas that can harbour the intermediate host mud snail
Blood test any lambs on the farm (as sentinels) for liver fluke, as they can inform the need for, or timing of cattle treatment

Resources

Vet, academic or researcher?

Take a look in Resources for more detailed information on all topics.