New guide published ‘Liver fluke control in grazing livestock’


Things to do at housing

Steps you should be taking now to protect your herd

Beef

  • Check if youngstock needs worming for gut worms at housing using faecal egg counts (FECs). If infection risk is high, use a product that contains a macrocyclic lactone (ML) to kill off inhibited Ostertagia worms to reduce the risk of Type ll ostertagiosis later in the winter. Adult cattle should not require any treatment for gut worms.
  • 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 and abattoir returns to monitor presence of fluke
  • Blood test a group of first season grazing calves (as sentinels) two weeks after housing to check whether they have been in contact with liver fluke in the summer

Dairy

  • Check if youngstock needs worming for gut worms at housing using faecal egg counts (FECs). If infection risk is high, use a product that contains macrocyclic lactone (ML) to kill off inhibited Ostertagia worms to reduce the risk of Type ll ostertagiosis later in the winter. Adult cattle should not require any treatment for gut worms
  • Take a bulk milk sample to test if the milking herd has been exposed to liver fluke.
  • 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 and use abattoir returns to monitor presence of fluke

Resources

Vet, academic or researcher?

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

22nd November 2022

A new practical guide on how to control liver fluke on beef and sheep farms has been published.

Compiled by leading liver fluke experts, independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings, Dr Philp Skuce of the Moredun Research Institute and COWS member Professor Diana Williams of the University of Liverpool, the booklet has been written and produced in collaboration with AHDB, HCC and QMS.

The guide investigates the lifecycle of the intermediate mud-snail host, considers the options to minimise risk at grazing, examines the range of available flukicide treatments, as well as looking at ways to minimise the environmental impacts of using flukicides.

A useful infographic will help farmers assess the risk of their livestock having liver fluke and the actions that need to be taken depending on the perceived risk.

Farmers can access a copy of the guide by clicking here: Liver fluke control in grazing livestock | AHDB

There is also a fascinating podcast with co-author Dr Philip Skuce talking to Dr Bethan John, AHDB Animal Health and Welfare Scientist about all things liver fluke. Listen here:

 AHDB Food & Farming / AHDB Beef & Lamb: Managing and controlling liver fluke this autumn (audioboom.com)