I find that there is still huge confusion about fluke dosing and timing of dosing. This isn’t helped by the huge range of products and maybe the lack of straightforward information about specific doses and what stage of the fluke life cycle they kill. It is also complicated in dairy cows by the lack of availability of licensed products to treat fluke. To discuss product selection for specific farms would be difficult, so I’ll try to explain some general principles around fluke control.
I would consider fluke to be a serious issue on a lot of farms affecting both cattle and sheep. The damage can vary from killing animals to causing serious liver damage and also, importantly, causing severe immunosuppression. This means animals are more prone to pick up other problems and, put simply, it will greatly affect their ability to thrive. Recent evidence has suggested fluke playing a role in precipitating diseases such as clostridia, salmonella and even TB.
Firstly, with it being a wet summer, conditions are perfect for fluke to be a problem this year. Looking at fluke antibody levels in bulk milk samples we tested over the last six to eight weeks, I’ve noticed a rising level. This simply means that in the last number of weeks, we have seen evidence of increasing fluke infestations on a lot of our farms. A certain number of farms don’t have problems but, over the last number of years, with favourable weather conditions fluke has certainly become more of an issue on most farms.
To understand fluke control, we have to understand the life cycle, outlined below:
Cattle and sheep pass fluke eggs in their faeces.These eggs release mircadia which need wet mild conditions to swim to and invade the mud snail. The mud snail likes wet conditions for survival, and owing to the increases we have seen in fluke levels, we must presume this snail is thriving.After developing in this tiny snail, cercariae are released and swim and form themselves in a cyst on the grass to be ingested by farm animals.Once inside the animal’s intestine, they migrate from the gut to the liver causing damage in the intestine.When arriving in the liver, it takes roughly eight to 12 weeks for the fluke to mature and set up home in the bile ducts. There, they feed on blood and cause enormous damage to the liver and put the animal’s immune system under severe pressure depending on the levels.These adult flukes then produce eggs, which are excreted in faeces continuing the life cycle and increasing the risk of infestation on farms.So, what are the signs of fluke? The obvious signs of weight loss, anaemia and swelling of the jowls are the end stage.
The problem with fluke is that the signs are not always obvious, but the effect on production can be significant.
So, the best way of assessing fluke risk is with your own vet. You can check dung samples, bulk milk antibodies or individual blood testing. I think one of the most valuable resources can be factory reports. Anyone killing animals should look for feedback on livers if not automatically generated. This can give invaluable information in relation to fluke on your farm. Then, using all this information, you should come up with a strategic dosing plan for the herd or flock.
Some important points when controlling fluke are:
When choosing a product, ensure that it is licensed and check what stage of fluke it kills. So, if timed right, will one dose be sufficient or will you need to repeat the dose?Sit down with your vet and decide what the best product is to use on your farm and what time to use it. Also, consider a second dose later in the winter to rule out any early immature that may have been missed.Look at risk areas on farm that are extremely wet and come up with long-term control strategies for managing these areas.Factory reports and feedback is essential in drawing up control plans, so make the effort to get this information and use it to determine good treatment plans.All bought in animals should receive a fluke dose to reduce pasture contamination especially in ‘clean’ farms.When using flukicides in dairy cows, carefully read and know withdrawals for the products you are using. Also, ensure that they are licensed for use in dairy cows.I have no doubt this year will have the potential to be a ‘‘flukey’’ year. So, sit down with your vet and discuss a fluke control programme.
I find that there is still huge confusion about fluke dosing and timing of dosing. This isn’t helped by the huge range of products and maybe the lack of straightforward information about specific doses and what stage of the fluke life cycle they kill. It is also complicated in dairy cows by the lack of availability of licensed products to treat fluke. To discuss product selection for specific farms would be difficult, so I’ll try to explain some general principles around fluke control.
I would consider fluke to be a serious issue on a lot of farms affecting both cattle and sheep. The damage can vary from killing animals to causing serious liver damage and also, importantly, causing severe immunosuppression. This means animals are more prone to pick up other problems and, put simply, it will greatly affect their ability to thrive. Recent evidence has suggested fluke playing a role in precipitating diseases such as clostridia, salmonella and even TB.
Firstly, with it being a wet summer, conditions are perfect for fluke to be a problem this year. Looking at fluke antibody levels in bulk milk samples we tested over the last six to eight weeks, I’ve noticed a rising level. This simply means that in the last number of weeks, we have seen evidence of increasing fluke infestations on a lot of our farms. A certain number of farms don’t have problems but, over the last number of years, with favourable weather conditions fluke has certainly become more of an issue on most farms.
To understand fluke control, we have to understand the life cycle, outlined below:
Cattle and sheep pass fluke eggs in their faeces.These eggs release mircadia which need wet mild conditions to swim to and invade the mud snail. The mud snail likes wet conditions for survival, and owing to the increases we have seen in fluke levels, we must presume this snail is thriving.After developing in this tiny snail, cercariae are released and swim and form themselves in a cyst on the grass to be ingested by farm animals.Once inside the animal’s intestine, they migrate from the gut to the liver causing damage in the intestine.When arriving in the liver, it takes roughly eight to 12 weeks for the fluke to mature and set up home in the bile ducts. There, they feed on blood and cause enormous damage to the liver and put the animal’s immune system under severe pressure depending on the levels.These adult flukes then produce eggs, which are excreted in faeces continuing the life cycle and increasing the risk of infestation on farms.So, what are the signs of fluke? The obvious signs of weight loss, anaemia and swelling of the jowls are the end stage.
The problem with fluke is that the signs are not always obvious, but the effect on production can be significant.
So, the best way of assessing fluke risk is with your own vet. You can check dung samples, bulk milk antibodies or individual blood testing. I think one of the most valuable resources can be factory reports. Anyone killing animals should look for feedback on livers if not automatically generated. This can give invaluable information in relation to fluke on your farm. Then, using all this information, you should come up with a strategic dosing plan for the herd or flock.
Some important points when controlling fluke are:
When choosing a product, ensure that it is licensed and check what stage of fluke it kills. So, if timed right, will one dose be sufficient or will you need to repeat the dose?Sit down with your vet and decide what the best product is to use on your farm and what time to use it. Also, consider a second dose later in the winter to rule out any early immature that may have been missed.Look at risk areas on farm that are extremely wet and come up with long-term control strategies for managing these areas.Factory reports and feedback is essential in drawing up control plans, so make the effort to get this information and use it to determine good treatment plans.All bought in animals should receive a fluke dose to reduce pasture contamination especially in ‘clean’ farms.When using flukicides in dairy cows, carefully read and know withdrawals for the products you are using. Also, ensure that they are licensed for use in dairy cows.I have no doubt this year will have the potential to be a ‘‘flukey’’ year. So, sit down with your vet and discuss a fluke control programme.
SHARING OPTIONS