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Sheep farmers urged to take action on wormer resistance
The letter states that most sheep farmers do not monitor treatment efficacy or growth rates in their lambs.
Experts advise using one of two newer wormer groups.

Industry experts have signed an open letter to sheep farmers encouraging them to take action on the increase in wormer resistance. 

The experts state that despite the presence of anthelmintic resistance on 98 per cent of farms, 85 per cent of farmers still believe that the wormers they use are “working as well as they always have”. 

Among the signatories include Phil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, Kevin Harrison, chair of the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep group (SCOPS), Dr Dave Bartley, principal investigator in disease control at the Moredon Research Institute, and Amanda Carson, president of the Sheep Veterinary Society. 

The group calls upon farmers to integrate two newer wormer groups (4-AD orange (Zolvix) and 5-SI purple (Startect)) into their worm control plans, as advised by SCOPS. 

The letter states that the majority of sheep farmers do not monitor treatment efficacy or growth rates in their lambs, which would give them early warning of resistance developing.

It continues: "Because most farmers can’t see the reduction in lamb performance, they are often reluctant to adopt new management practices that would make this invisible problem visible. Swapping a dose of an older grp 1 BZ, grp 2 LV or grp 3 ML wormer to a grp 4 AD or grp 5 SI in the latter part of the grazing season will give a visible improvement in performance in most cases as worms left by previous treatments are removed."

The letter goes on to advise that farmers should use one of the two newer groups at two points in their worm control plan. "Firstly, as part of their quarantine treatments for all incoming sheep, and secondly as a one-off treatment for lambs, in the latter part of the grazing season," it notes.

Farmers are also being encouraged to use Elanco’s Sheep Wormer Checker to support the transition to a more sustainable programme of worm control. 

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.