TO: WormMail (recipients undisclosed) [WormMail 200903261145]
Prime time to hammer liver fluke
Yesterday’s media release
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/news/recent-news/agriculture-news-releases/hammer-fluke
25 Mar 2009
Livestock producers in liver fluke-prone areas on the tablelands, slopes and coast have been reminded that autumn is the best time to treat animals with flukicides.NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) veterinarian, Stephen Love, said cattle and sheep should be drenched after the onset of frosts in April or May to eliminate fluke they have picked up in summer and early autumn.
“Strategic treatment during mid to late autumn can prevent a major rise in pasture contamination and significant production losses in stock affected by fluke,” Dr Love said.
“Traditional flukey areas can expect problems now following the good conditions which have boosted survival and spread of snails which host liver fluke.
“Known snail habitats should be avoided for as long as possible, particularly for sheep goats, alpacas and younger cattle.”
According to Dr Love the presence of liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, can be confirmed by blood tests and faecal egg counts.
“We advise producers to use the most efficient flukicides, triclabendazole-based products or the new nitroxynil, clorsulon and ivermectin one-shot injection for cattle, to minimise fluke carry-over into spring,” he said.
For more information on liver fluke and other internal parasites producers can contact Dr Love, (02) 6738 8519, your local vet or explore WormBoss, www.wormboss.com.au
Further reading
Liver fluke – the basics
Liver fluke disease in sheep and cattle
Media contact: Bernadette York, (02) 6391 3936 or 0427 773 785
Extras
WormBoss – some background blurb
For those who came in late:
“Australia is one of the world’s leading producers of lamb. There are 47,296 Australian properties with sheep and lambs (ABS June 2007).
Worms cost Australian sheep producer more than any other disease and for producers; sustainable management and control of sheep worms is essential for future success.
WormBoss represents the national knowledge on sheep worms and their management. It has been developed by the Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre (Sheep
CRC) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) to help producers meet worm challenges. There are currently over 2,000 subscribers to the WormBoss website and they benefit from
monthly updates on worm management and enhancing animal productivity.(Nicola Raymond, Currie Communications)”.
“WormBoss is a world first product that attempts to provide Australian sheep producers with a comprehensive information resource available 24/7.The project was a jointly funded exercise by Australian Wool Innovation and The Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre (CRC).
It was launched in March 2005, and currently attracts between 3000 and 5000 site visits each month WormBoss receives financial and other support from the Animal Health Alliance – a body representing most Veterinary Pharmaceutical Companies and drench resellers.
WormBoss also provides people who subscribe on the website with a monthly “Seasonal Worm Outlook” by email (over 1000, including a large proportion from the industry advisory and service sector) (Arthur Le Feuvre, National WormBoss Team)”.
New quick test for worms http://www.sheepcrc.org.au/news-and-events/press-releases/8-new-quick-test-for-worms.php
Biosecurity website http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity ‘NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has launched a one-stop biosecurity information website to keep farmers and the community up-to-date with the latest developments in the detection and prevention of pests, animal diseases and weeds in NSW’.