In the last few weeks, we have noticed an increase in some indicators on farms that fluke is now becoming an issue. With limited availability of licensed products to treat fluke in dairy cows, this means that having a fluke control programme in place this year will be essential.

Liver fluke has been around for a long time and I think it still is one of the most economically significant parasites affecting sheep and cattle in our farms.

A fluke burden can reduce performance, but most significantly, it can expose animals to other problems, primarily by suppressing their immunity.

So what do you need to do? Firstly, I think that every farmer should assess the risk of fluke on their farm.

This can be done in a number of ways. History of fluke would mean that it should be top priority to control at drying off and maybe again at calving down.

Know what your risks are by doing some diagnostics. While treatments are limited, the diagnostics are getting better.

I find looking at bulk milk antibodies for fluke over a period of time or even in a one-off test at this time of year can give a fair indication of exposure of cows to liver fluke. This, along with pooled faecal tests on cows that are under-performing, can also help build a risk analysis for your farm.

I think what some factories are doing now by generating reports on livers of cull cows in the factory can also add more valuable information to exposure risk.

We must also look for the clinical signs of fluke in cows on farm, which is hugely important.

To make this happen, talk to your vet. Sit down and do a risk analysis for your farm and then draw up a strategic dosing plan for your herd.

This approach will be the basis for sustainable herd performance in the future for all our farms.

Tommy Heffernan works at Avondale Vet Clinic Arklow, Co Wicklow. Avondale Vet Clinic is part of XLVets. XLVets is a group of progressive practices which are working together to achieve a better future for agriculture and veterinary in Ireland. For further information go to www.xlvets.ie