Roundworm project seeks cattle farmer input
© Tim Scrivener Beef and dairy farmers are invited to take part in a short questionnaire about roundworm control in their stock for a project developing practical recommendations to minimise the risk of resistance to anthelmintics.
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The aim of the Biosecurity and Roundworm Advice for Cattle Enterprises (Brace) project is to understand the current roundworm situation in UK herds, farmers’ attitudes and practices, and the spread of wormer resistance.
Measures to limit the spread of disease between farms and prevent wormer-resistant roundworms from being introduced are essential for increasing the lifespan of currently available wormers, according to Moredun Research Institute, which is leading the project.
However, the results of a previous questionnaire highlighted that only half of the cattle farmers administered any wormer treatments to newly purchased stock.
Brace seeks to:
- Explore the risk posed by traded cattle
- Clarify the scale of roundworm infection across the country
- Understand the associated risk of transporting wormer-resistant roundworms on to farms.
What we already know
Roundworms are known to impact the productivity and welfare of livestock.
Roundworm infections cause significant production losses in the national herd, from a reduction in weight gain during the first and second grazing seasons, to lower milk yields of up to 2.2kg a cow a day, according to Moredun.Â
Resistance to clear wormer has been commonly reported in the UK, particularly against the cattle worm Cooperia. Resistance to white and yellow wormers has also been recorded, but it is still unclear how much.
Continued usage of potentially ineffective drugs could leave herds vulnerable to infection from resistant roundworms and a lack of options for future control.
Questionnaire
Complete a 10-minute questionnaire on cattle management and roundworm control.
All information will be treated confidentially and stored securely. Gathering information on current management practices will help Brace tailor the recommendations and ensure they will be easy to achieve on farm.
- Brace is a three-year project funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and runs until the end of 2025. It is led by Moredun Research Institute and involves partners from the James Hutton Institute, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the University of Liverpool.