The Department of Agriculture's liver fluke forecast for November 2025 predicts infection being most prevalent in the midlands, west and northern half of the country.

Each year, the Department of Agriculture - in collaboration with Met Éireann, UCD, Teagasc and Animal Health Ireland - advises farmers of the predicted risk of disease caused by liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) infection in livestock for the following winter.

This year’s forecast is based on meteorological data gathered between May and October 2025 by Met Éireann.

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The Ollerenshaw summer index 2025 predicts a lower disease prevalence in the southeast of the country this November.

Dry conditions

The low values of the summer index in the east are due to the dry conditions in June and September 2025, according to the Department.

The Beef HealthCheck programme - run in partnership with Meat Industry Ireland and meat factories nationwide - collects and reports liver fluke information in cattle at slaughter from participating abattoirs.

While there was an increase in liver fluke in 2024 for the first time in years, 2025 has fortunately returned to previous levels.

To date this year, abattoir examinations showed an average of 34% of herds with at least one animal with liver fluke damage. Between 60% and 80% of herds in Sligo, Mayo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Donegal reported to have signs of liver fluke at slaughter.

Variation

In order to assess the risk of liver fluke disease on any particular farm, various environmental factors - particularly climate, landform and soil type (especially whether soils are heavy or free-draining) - must be taken into account.

This is because the intermediate host of the parasite, which is a mud snail (Galba truncatula), occurs in soil that is slightly acidic and muddy.

Thus, areas with rushes or wet patches - for example around gates and troughs - are particularly important with regard to liver fluke risk, as they can help to maintain a population of the infective stage of the parasite. Liver fluke infection tends to be chronic in cattle, resulting in ill-thrift and poor performance.

When using flukicides to control and treat liver fluke infection, particular attention should be given to dosing cattle at the time of housing or shortly thereafter and sheep in autumn or earlier in the year, where indicated by faecal examination results or prior disease history.

Testing faecal samples for the presence of liver fluke eggs can help determine both the need for and success of flukicide treatments.