Farmers are being warned about a high risk of liver fluke disease this autumn and winter, particularly in western regions of the UK.
The risk of liver fluke is significantly influenced by the weather, particularly wet summers and mild winters. Following a high risk year in 2015/16, which led to pasture contamination this spring and summer, the National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS) has forecast a high risk of liver fluke developing this autumn and winter.
Farming Connect has organised a series of six events across Wales to raise awareness of liver fluke, which can cost sheep producers £25-£30 per head (EBLEX, 2011). Dr Philip Skuce, of the Moredun Research Institute, and Professor Diana Williams, from the University of Liverpool, will discuss how warmer, wetter summers and milder winters, along with drug resistance, animal movements and wetland restoration have changed the pattern and prevalence of liver fluke in the UK. They will also outline the clinical signs of liver fluke to look out for and highlight the cost implications of the disease, which can reduce liveweight gains by 10% in adults and 30% in lambs and calves.
The 2015 UK fluke awareness survey revealed that farmers do not fully understand the liver fluke life-cycle, so they do not know which is the best treatment to use at specific stages of the parasite’s development. The events will help farmers learn more about controlling the right stages of fluke at the right time with the right product and devising control strategies that are tailored to suit individual farms, taking farm history, location, abattoir returns, diagnostic samples and on-site risk factors into account.
Resistance issues will also be highlighted along with the four-point plan for fluke control, which includes pasture protection in the spring and reducing the mud snail population in summer, as snails are an intermediate host for liver fluke. Autumn focuses on avoiding high cyst challenge by grazing animals away from known or suspected high risk areas and the strategic treatment of animals with appropriate products in the winter.
The six events are being held in:
- Tuesday, 1st November 2pm-4pm, Welshpool Livestock Market, Welshpool, SY21 8SR - Dr Philip Skuce
- Tuesday, 1st November 7.30pm-9.30pm, The Knighton Hotel, Broad Street, Knighton LD7 1BL - Dr Philip Skuce
- Wednesday, 2nd November 2pm-4pm, White Hart Inn, Llandeilo SA19 6RS - Dr Philip Skuce
- Wednesday, 2nd November 7.30pm-9.30pm, Rugby Club, Adpar, Newcastle Emlyn SA38 9AZ - Dr Philip Skuce
- Monday, 7th November 7.30pm-9.30pm, Gorwelion, Bala LL23 7NW - Prof. Diana Williams
- Tuesday, 8th November 7.30pm-9.30pm, Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon LL55 1AY - Prof. Diana Williams
For more information, or to book a place at any of the events contact Carys Thomas on 01970 631402 carys.thomas@menterabusnes.co.uk