The inclement weather and high levels of rainfall have resulted in a sharp increase in deaths of sheep as a result of fluke, a meeting in Donegal head recently.
About 150 farmers attended a Teagasc/AHI animal health themed event in Donegal last Friday.
Nick Garvey, a Ballyshannon-based vet warned, those who attended the event to be very vigilant for fluke issues on their farms in the northwest this autumn.
“We’ve seen a large increase in the number of fluke-associated deaths, especially in sheep, over the past number of weeks. These deaths were as a result of acute fluke infections. The weather in the northwest has been very conducive to fluke and we are now seeing problems appearing on many farms,” Garvey said.
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He advised farmers to dose at housing with a product that kills all stages of liver fluke. Eight to 10 weeks post-housing, farmers should faecal-sample housed stock to determine whether any fluke are present and then dose accordingly if needed. Purchased stock should also be dosed on arrival to the farm if a farmers does not have a previous history of dealing with that farm.
When questioned on the relevance of rumen fluke, Garvey said that while he has seen cases, rumen fluke poses a lower threat to animal health. If a farmer is seeing reduced liveweight gain or has a confirmed case from a factory floor then they need to dose.
He added that is important that the product they dose with contains ozyclozanide to treat for rumen fluke.
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About 150 farmers attended a Teagasc/AHI animal health themed event in Donegal last Friday.
Nick Garvey, a Ballyshannon-based vet warned, those who attended the event to be very vigilant for fluke issues on their farms in the northwest this autumn.
“We’ve seen a large increase in the number of fluke-associated deaths, especially in sheep, over the past number of weeks. These deaths were as a result of acute fluke infections. The weather in the northwest has been very conducive to fluke and we are now seeing problems appearing on many farms,” Garvey said.
He advised farmers to dose at housing with a product that kills all stages of liver fluke. Eight to 10 weeks post-housing, farmers should faecal-sample housed stock to determine whether any fluke are present and then dose accordingly if needed. Purchased stock should also be dosed on arrival to the farm if a farmers does not have a previous history of dealing with that farm.
When questioned on the relevance of rumen fluke, Garvey said that while he has seen cases, rumen fluke poses a lower threat to animal health. If a farmer is seeing reduced liveweight gain or has a confirmed case from a factory floor then they need to dose.
He added that is important that the product they dose with contains ozyclozanide to treat for rumen fluke.
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