伊人直播

Keeping on Top of Parasite Control

With听producers听looking听forward听to听Spring听turn-out,听it鈥檚听timely听to review听parasite control听plans.听A team from 伊人直播,听Moredun, the University of Liverpool and the James Hutton Institute听draws听on new research to highlight the risks of bought-in stock carrying unwelcome parasites and discuss strategies for their control.听

Grazing cattle are susceptible to a wide range of parasites. These parasites have uniquely well-adapted lifecycles and are continuously adapting in response to changes around them, for example, changing weather patterns. At the same time, grassland management practices are evolving, as reflected by the uptake of herbal leys, rotational grazing and integrated arable/livestock production systems. To keep pace with these changes, our understanding of the interactions between parasites, their host(s) and the environment is developing all the time, prompting ongoing.听Not least,听to听reflect听growing听levels of concern听about听to the听chemicals听that underpin parasite control in cattle, also known as

Internal parasites (endoparasites)

• Roundworms
  • Gastro-intestinal nematodes incl. Cooperia in the small intestine;
    and Ostertagia and Haemonchus in the stomach (abomasum)
  • Lungworm
• Liver fluke
• Tapeworm
• Protozoa e.g. cryptosporidium

External parasites (ectoparasites)*

• Lice, mites and ticks

* Despite its name, ringworm is a fungal infection and is excluded.

When it comes to听parasite management of bought-in cattle, uncertainties about听their听grazing and treatment history听need to be听considered, including the risk of introducing anthelmintic resistance听through incoming animal movements.听听

In the current听study,听analysis of dung samples collected from almost 400 pens of cattle sold for breeding or fattening听through livestock markets听across Great Britain听between听2019-2022,听gives听insight into听roundworm听infections in听cattle听being听traded.听Overall, two-thirds were听found to be听infected with roundworms.听Results also showed听some听evidence of听resistance听to white wormers in these roundworms.听

For听farmers,听this听highlights听the听potential听risk听of introducing roundworms听with听resistance听to听one of the听main treatment options听through听bought-in听cattle.听Effective听biosecurity,听testing听bought-in听cattle for roundworms, treating them if needed and keeping them听separate from听other cattle on the farm听for a period of quarantine,听is the best form of听control.听However,听responses to a survey of almost 100 cattle farmers across Great Britain suggest that听only half听of the respondents听routinely听quarantine听incoming animals.听听

Through discussions with听farmers听in North-East Scotland and听in听the Scottish and Welsh Borders, the project team heard听how听the management of incoming stock is influenced by听available on-farm听resources, including听space,听labour听and handling facilities, and听buying patterns.听For听example,听direct off-farm or via a livestock mart or dealer,听and whether they were bought听in听a large batch from听a single source听or听in听smaller batches from multiple sources.听Finally, awareness of parasite risk is often limited: parasite control is rarely the main consideration, and other health concerns, such as Johne鈥檚 or BVD, tend to be prioritised.听

Informed by dung sampling results from livestock moving through markets, along with feedback from the farmer survey and discussion groups, an expert working group of veterinarians, advisors, and industry representatives is developing practical recommendations for managing parasites in bought-in cattle.听听

In the meantime,听the team鈥檚 top tips are听to:听

• Assume ALL bought-in animals are carrying resistant roundworm infections.听
• Treat bought-in animals with an effective anthelmintic (a lungworm vaccine is also available - speak to your vet about its use).
• Quarantine and, if possible, yard bought-in cattle for 48 hours post-treatment, then keep them separate from the rest of the herd, ideally for three weeks.
• Check that treatments worked by doing a faecal egg count: 10-14 days after treatment if using a white (1-BZ) or clear (3-ML) product or five to seven days after treatment if you used a yellow (2-LV) product.听
• Keep parasite management plans under review.

The听project,听Biosecurity and Roundworm Advice听for听Cattle Enterprises (BRACE)听was funded by BBSRC听and DEFRA.听The support of all participating farmers, advisors and听livestock markets is gratefully听appreciated.听听

Sam听Beechener,听Research Fellow,听Sam.Beechener@sruc.ac.uk听

Posted by SAC Consulting on 16/03/2026