Seasonal Risk of Liver Fluke Infection
The liver fluke requires moderate to high rainfall in the spring and summer, to produce the infective stage of the life cycle on herbage in the autumn, for cattle to graze. April was very dry, but summer rainfall will have compensated for this. High rainfall was experienced in July across the west and north, including Scotland, when it was very dry in the south and east. This contrasted markedly with the weather in August, where the west and north were relatively drier, but above- average rainfall was experienced in the Midlands and East Anglia.
The testing window for liver fluke within the Herdsure® Cattle Health Improvement Service runs from November to January. Herdsure® offers sampling and testing to determine its status and, if necessary, advice on appropriate treatments and management measures to reduce the risk of liver fluke infection.
For more information click here.