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 member Bruce Thompson, SQP/RAMA Mark Pass and farm vet Rob Howe.
In looking at the history of COWS, RUMA talks to Dr Mary Vickers, a senior AHDB scientist who was the first official Chair.
“The early days of COWS were very much about bringing together the wise heads, key stakeholders, researchers and academics that were looking into the mechanics of ensuring that we understood how to best control cattle parasites,” said Mary.
“The first COWS technical manual was published in May 2010 which followed work by a core steering group of stakeholders. It all came about as a result of increasing numbers of treatment failures in anthelmintics being reported, and an observational study which indicated those failures were possibly due to underdosing of products; this raised concerns that there might be an issue.
“An industry consultation followed, as recommended by the steering group, which was incredibly constructive and led to an update of the manual to put more focus on practical implementation and advice. For example, focusing on better understanding of worm lifecycles in grazing management to support farmers and vets.
“This was a real step change which saw COWS move from research to communicating practical advice. The levy bodies also got involved to help disseminate the information. We were very aware of the resistance issues that were facing the sheep industry so wanted to take positive action with cattle sooner rather than later.”
Farmer input
When RUMA asked suckler cow farmer Mark Jelley whether he had put into practice any guidance and advice from COWS the answer was an emphatic yes.
“We have changed our wormer policy to better understand if we need to treat in the first instance, but also to reduce reliance on pour-on products. We now understand the convenience they offer could lead to resistance issues in the longer term, particularly if we do not use them responsibly. This is something all farmers can take onboard.
“We have also learned more about managing liver fluke. As a result, this has led to more targeted treatment and we have reduced our medicine use considerably which is a win: win.”
Current dairy farmer member Bruce Thompson agrees. “I would encourage farmers to refer to the impartial COWS advice when it comes to parasite management. This advice is free and has been created by a group of experts from different backgrounds, all with the shared goal of reducing disease in animals.
“We have to appreciate that our current parasite control strategy has to transform to a parasite ‘management’ approach due to resistance, environmental, food security, climate change and primary resource challenges, and COWS is helping us to do this.”
SQPs and vets
Mark Pass is an experienced SQP and has relied on COWS material in his job for many years.
“COWS provides resources that are very informative, which will not only help SQPs in their development, but also equip them to give the best possible advice to their dairy and beef customers.
“As an R-SQP I have played a vital role, alongside vets, to improve the health and performance of herds and flocks alike, whilst also increasing efficiency and cost effectiveness on farm.
“The role involves daily commitment to providing pro-active advice and guidance to farmers. COWS has been a big part of this year-round daily commitment, by gaining knowledge or just confirming what you thought was right, is right! Anthelmintic resistance is an area of particular interest to me, which also led me to making good use of the guidance offered by COWS.”
The series ends with thoughts from Integrated Parasite Management (IPM) exponent and vet Rob Howe.
“I was asked to join the COWS group in 2020 because of my interest in regenerating farmed landscapes, which had led to work I was doing in practice to deliver a different approach to the control of parasitic diseases in cattle.
“If a blanket approach to using wormers is taken this could render them useless, while damaging the fragile ecosystem that makes livestock farming viable. This common approach to wormer use not only costs more, but potentially reduces animal resilience, as cattle are less able to build natural immunity. It also increases the likelihood of wormer resistance, particularly to Group 3 Ivermectin anthelmintics.”
Rob credits the COWS group with helping bring the latest research and key opinions together to form IPM, which in essence is a shift towards diagnostic-led treatments and prevention, as opposed to automatic treatment.
“I hope I have shone a light on some of the enormous research gaps that exist, and questionable dogma that has been part of common practice over the years.
“The whole story of healthy ruminant dung on soil, which has no traces of anthelmintics in it, helps everyone understand the great capacity of cows to boost biodiversity, if we farm them in a nature-compatible and friendly-way. COWS resources offer a great help to vets and SQPs alike, wishing to do this.”