Unprecedented rainfall during 2012 brings increased risks for 2013
According to NADIS, the risks from parasites such as liver fluke have been greatly increased by last year’s weather - the worst rainfall the UK has seen since records began in 1910, there has also been a lack of frost which would ordinarily reduce the risk of diseases such as fluke.
According to NADIS, the risks from parasites such as liver fluke have been greatly increased by last year’s weather – the worst rainfall the UK has seen since records began in 1910, there has also been a lack of frost which would ordinarily reduce the risk of diseases such as fluke.
The National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS) supported by Merial Animal Health has highlighted this problem in its latest monthly Parasite Forecast. As a result it recommends early treatment for cattle.
The forecast points out that cattle may also have been exposed to significant levels of fresh infection on pasture during February and March, and so local risk factors should be assessed with veterinary advice when deciding on a treatment strategy.
Merial Animal Health’s Veterinary Advisor, Fiona MacGillivray, says, “It is the perfect time of the year to screen cattle for faecal fluke egg counts – fluke infections picked up last season prior to housing will be adult stage and therefore eggs can be detected in the faeces. Out wintered cattle should be treated for fluke at this stage to remove infections.
“Clearly the record rainfall figures will mean that everyone will also have to be alert to the dangers of liver fluke infection following turn-out.”
In local areas of high risk it is advisable to treat with a flukicide approximately 10 weeks after turn out, to remove egg-laying fluke and thus minimise levels of pasture contamination. This in turn will help to lower the risk of new infection from August onwards.
It is recommended that a parasite control plan is introduced for the forthcoming grazing season to help monitor and control both nematodes and liver fluke.
Visit www.nadis.org.uk to see the full NADIS Parasite Forecast, sponsored by Merial Animal Health.
