The Latest


Things to do now

Steps you should be taking now to protect your herd

Beef

  • Treat youngstock at housing for gut worms using a product that contains a macrocyclic lactone (ML) to kill off inhibited Ostertagia worms to reduce the risk of Type 2 ostertagiosis. Adult cattle should not require any treatment for gut worms, but may benefit from treatment if in poor condition. Consider diagnostic tests in older stock. Blood tests are available. Speak to your vet about these
  • 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 now. Use abattoir returns to monitor presence of fluke
  • The presence of fluke eggs in faeces can indicate liver fluke infection. Check to see if treatment is required

Dairy

  • Treat youngstock at housing for gut worms using a product that contains a macrocyclic lactone (ML) to kill off inhibited Ostertagia worms to reduce the risk of Type 2 ostertagiosis. Adult cattle should not require any treatment for gut worms, but may benefit from treatment if in poor condition. Consider diagnostic tests in older stock. Milk and blood tests are available. Speak to your vet about these
  • 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 now. Use abattoir returns to monitor presence of fluke
  • The presence of fluke eggs on faeces can indicate liver fluke infection. Check to see if treatment is required

Resources

Vet, academic or researcher?

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

The latest

Consider which products to use when treating cattle for parasites this winter

Press

  1. Consider which products to use when treating cattle for parasites this winter (COWS Press Release, 8 December 2020)
  2. Test for Liver Fluke (COWS/SCOPS joint Press Release for vets and RAMAs, 14 Sept 20)
  3. Test for Liver Fluke before treating sheep (COWS/SCOPS Joint Press Release, 14 September 2020)
  4. New study highlights huge cost of worms to UK cattle farmers (COWS Press Release, 20 August 2020)
  5. New guidance from COWS: Integrated parasite control on farms (COWS Press Release, 10 June 2020)
  6. Liver Fluke Update from COWS & SCOPS, (12 May 2020)
  7. COWS updates its guide to parasite control (COWS Press Release, 20 Jan 2020)