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Liver fluke treatment reminder

Following a period of warm, wet weather, with autumn upon us, it is imperative that we continue to address the treatment of fluke within our livestock. Eggs that have passed through the mudsnail will produce metacercariae on pasture. As we enter the most infective period of the year, production of metacercariae by the snail will continue past October if temperature allows.

With 1 in 5 cattle livers condemned at slaughter and where this figure is as high as 60% in some places, vigilant treatment is central to the control of animal welfare and farm profits. The Veterinary Laboratories Agency recorded higher levels of chronic fluke on submissions in 2009 over 2008 and the highest level of acute infection since 2002.

The liver is a central organ to so many metabolic processes, so it is not surprising that clinical fasciola cases are not the real issue. A classic tip of the ice berg scenario where sub clinical ill thrift is a major problem and can be broken down into:

  • Reduced live weight gain
  • Reduced milk yield
  • Reduced fertility
  • Anaemia
  • Diarrhoea


Clinical signs are not what costs money, subclinical damage is where profit is eroded; feeding fluke will not drive revenue. It is worth remembering:-

  • Fluke is no longer considered simply a problem during autumn and winter, but one that can affect production year round.
  • If you are unsure of the status on your farm (sheep or cattle) a pooling of 10 faecal samples for an egg count will diagnose the level of adult fluke infection – speak to your vet.
  • Fluke are not species specific and pasture will infect cattle and sheep alike (deer and rabbit will also carry fluke).
  • At this time of the year a flukicide must have activity against both the immature (migrating) and mature (adult) stages of the parasite. Cattle rarely show symptoms of acute and subacute infection, although outdoor reared calves may be susceptible.


In dairy, there is still no product on the market with a nil milk withdrawal, leaving drying off as the only suitable treatment period in lactating cows. Control through treatment and a diagnostic programme is fundamental to prevention of production loss, where bulk milk sampling provides a useful initial screening and monitoring tool.

See our online shop for fluke treatments for cattle and fluke treatments for sheep.
 


Contact us at MVF if you need more help >>

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