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
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 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
New Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMRS) came into force in May and November last year. The 2024 Regulations amend the 2013 Regulations, so formally it is the 2013 Regulations (as amended) that are in force: any references to the 2013 Regulations should be taken to be the amended version. Note that the 2024 amendments to the 2013 … Continued
The very limited number of flukicides available to treat cattle and sheep in the UK means it’s essential for farmers, vets and advisers to fully understand their product choices, say the Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) and Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) groups. Experts on the two groups say the key to choosing … Continued
AMTRA has published bluetongue podcast to support SQPs/RAMAs on the frontline of product prescription and supply in giving the best possible advice to farmers A new podcast has been released by AMTRA entitled ‘Information on bluetongue for prescribing SQPs’Bluetongue podcast – AMTRA. Even though the weather has been colder at times recently, cases of bluetongue … Continued
The number of positive liver fluke cases is beginning to rise, in line with the statement made by the Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) and the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) groups in October that, after a wet, mild summer and autumn, livestock farmers could be facing a high challenge for some areas. … Continued
A new, pen-side test will help farmers make decisions whether to treat for liver fluke or not. The temptation for many farmers is to react to warnings of high liver fluke risk by routinely treating with flukicides. However, without risk assessment and appropriate testing, they cannot know when, or even if, they need to treat … Continued
The relatively low and later incidence of liver fluke in recent years should not make cattle and sheep farmers complacent this autumn and winter, say the Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) and Sustainable Control of Parasites of Sheep (SCOPS) groups. Speaking on behalf of COWS and SCOPS, Dr Philip Skuce of Moredun says: “A run … Continued
Levels of liver fluke in the UK have been relatively low in recent years. However, after a wet and mild summer and autumn in many areas, forecasts are predicting that 24/25 will buck the trend, resulting in a high liver fluke challenge for some areas. The temptation for many farmers will be to react to … Continued