News

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

What worms? What wormer resistance?

21st November 2025

Research by Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) veterinary investigation officer Natalie Jewell for her MSc project, set out to discover which roundworms are affecting young cattle in the UK and if wormer resistance is on the increase. This research project aimed to improve the understanding of gastrointestinal nematode species infecting first grazing season cattle ... Continued

Beef farmer saves £5,000 by worming his cattle differently

16th October 2025

Round worms in young cattle can reduce growth rates by 30%, reducing herd performance, profitability while increasing environmental footprints. Anthelmintic resistance is a growing concern but can be slowed with responsible medicine use. Ian Farrant, 2023 Beef Farmer of the Year, took part in AHDB’s Monitor Farm programme and changed his worm control to support ... Continued

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 slipping ... 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 ... 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.