Overwintered fluke disease is forecast to be significant in all regions of the UK, except eastern England and the Midlands, according to the November Parasite Forecast from NADIS.
Farmers should be vigilant for signs of infection as the level of disease could be higher than anticipated in previous forecasts.
Regionally, there remains a high prevalence of liver fluke disease in northern and western Scotland and Northern Ireland, with occasional losses due to fluke, forecast in western England and Wales.
The risk for individual farms will vary depending on the region and also on local pasture conditions and history. The risk will be higher when pastures have been wet through the summer. Farmers should avoid grazing cattle and sheep on these pastures if at all possible, or where this cannot be avoided, animals should be treated with an appropriate flukicide.
Housing cattle over the winter will prevent further infection being picked up and provides the opportunity to treat fluke before turnout in spring. Sheep will continue to be exposed to infection if not housed and the risk period for acute fluke disease (typically late autumn) may extend into the winter.
Fiona MacGillivray, Veterinary Advisor for Merial Animal Health says: “Housed cattle that have been exposed to infection at pasture will require treatment. If local conditions indicate a likely high risk of disease it would be wise to treat for fluke at or around the time of housing. This will address the effects of adult fluke on production over the winter, such as reduced feed conversion rates and increased finishing times1.
“It may be advisable to check for fluke eggs approximately three months later, in case a second treatment is required prior to turnout.”
The dry summer and early autumn will most likely lead to a late peak in gutworm larvae on pastures. A housing dose of a larvicidal wormer is advisable for young stock, including spring-born and yearling calves to clear inhibited gutworm larvae and any lungworm infection.
