The August National Animal Disease Information Service parasite forecast includes a warning on the wet and warm weather - which has provided ‘near perfect’ conditions for fluke and worms to thrive.
Fiona MacGillivray, an adviser at NADIS sponsor Merial, said: “Parasites are having a field day so it’s really important to make sure that the wormers and flukicides you use are able to cope with the rain.
“Pour-on treatments are often chosen for their convenience but, unless the pour-on is rain-fast, you might as well be pouring money down the drain.
Products should be able to be used in wet weather conditions; the alternative may be either a drench or injectable treatment."
The forecast adds that wet summers are associated with an increased risk of liver fluke disease during the autumn and winter months.
June rainfall is often a good guide to the likely prevalence of fluke disease in the autumn, and conditions this year indicate that 2012/13 could be a high risk fluke season.
It advises stock should be dosed with a flukicide around eight to 12 weeks after turnout to reduce the release of eggs from cattle infected already with adult egg-laying fluke, thus reducing the infection of snails and infection on the pastures in autumn/winter this year. Farmers should be vigilant for any signs of disease this month too.
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Source: nfuonline.com
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