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A new study to be published in the journal Preventative Veterinary Medicine estimates that roundworms, liver fluke and lungworm costs UK livestock farmers £270m per year in lost production and treatment.
Across 18 European countries studied, only France comes out with a higher cost of £418m. Ireland is third on the list at £214m.
The researchers estimate that dairy cattle account for 55% of the UK total, with beef cattle at 29% and sheep flocks at 16%.
For cattle in particular, the majority of the costs due to worms come from lost production as opposed to anthelmintic treatments. In dairy, it is estimated at £133m out of a total of £149m.
The advice from researcher Hannah Rose Vineer from Liverpool University is that farmers should work with vets to draw up a plan to protect their cattle from worms.
“It is no good waiting until there is a serious health problem or using products the worms have grown resistant to. Take the right steps now or risk losing chemical control in the future” she said.
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