- Location
- North Antrim
How long would most of you wait before giving the first fluke drench in the current weather conditions?(N.ire, North of England and Scotland most relevant to me)
That's why I specified first dose in the op.Totally dependent on what you're doing them with.
Products that only work on mature fluke are pointless this early unless you've had a seriously wet summer.
The following is a summary of some very definitive work on Summer dosing to control. I think it involved four consecutive doses over about 3 or 4 years.
Further studies in the control of ovine fascioliasis by strategic dosing - PubMed
Three hill sheep flocks were used to study the effect of the strategic use of rafoxanide to kill liver flukes before they attained the adult egg-laying stage. The programme ran from 1973 to 1976. In November 1976 the programme was stopped in one flock but was continued in the other two, which...pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Further studies in the control of ovine fascioliasis by strategic dosing
A Whitelaw, A R Fawcett
- PMID: 7336552
- DOI: 10.1136/vr.109.6.118
Abstract
Three hill sheep flocks were used to study the effect of the strategic use of rafoxanide to kill liver flukes before they attained the adult egg-laying stage. The programme ran from 1973 to 1976. In November 1976 the programme was stopped in one flock but was continued in the other two, which were subsequently merged. The results of frequent whole flock monitoring since 1976, described here, showed that in both flocks the level of infection, as judged by the examination of faeces for the presence of Fasciola hepatica eggs, remained at a very low level. It is postulated that the adoption of a strategic dosing programme over a period of three to four years would limit egg deposition on pastures close to eradication levels and that several years without needing to use anthelmintics against liver flukes would ensue.
'Definitive work', done in the Seventies, using a product that isn't even licensed in the UK these days?
'Definitive work', done in the Seventies, using a product that isn't even licensed in the UK these days?
Dosed my ewes mid September with triclabendixzol, now I normally do them again this next week before putting the tups out. Reading the bottle it says do not redose for 10 weeks. Do I wait till mid December and give a closantle as usuall when ewes are turned back to the fell or bash on giving them another triclabendixzok?
Of what though?That's why I specified first dose in the op.
Triclabendixole (not much point dosing with anything else for the first dose in the autumn)Of what though?
Some products won't do anything at the moment.
I'd agree, but it's surprising at how many don't realise that.Triclabendixole (not much point dosing with anything else for the first dose in the autumn)
Of what though?
Some products won't do anything at the moment.
Yes I get all that.Not strictly true.
All flukicides kill adult fluke - which will break the egg laying cycle. There are no products which "won't do anything" but you need to know what each product does, and what is required to get the same results as other products (this becomes even more critical when you have Triclabendazole resistance - or tolerance).
At this time of the year you should have the full age range of fluke, which obviously Triclabendazole is the only flukicide will kill all age groups with 1 dose.
If you have resistance - or tolerance - you need to switch to using Closantel, or up to now Trodax... but need to be aware these need a follow up dose 8 weeks later to do the same job as Triclabendazole
I assume your cattle are outside all winter?Yes from what we're seeing here, strategic dosing is the key. The ewes were in better nick after the first year of it, really picked up condition. Even more improvement this year (plus getting on top of a tick problem). We had a lot of sub-acute - poor fleece, slightly under-par. Rarely had sudden deaths.
As said, you must break the cycle but you have to understand the cycle first. Fluke can keep shedding eggs well into autumn. One of my apples trees has a blossom on it, so that's an indicator of the warmth still about!
Closantel will kill young and adult, but you need triclabenzadole to wipe out the full spectrum. My vet once said keep at it (with cattle) until Christmas.
We find our Sep/tupping doses fit our management system best. Wouldn't want to be hauling ewes in mid-tupping to give the 2nd dose.
Yes I get all that.
If a product only kills mature fluke and you don't have mature fluke, it will be doing nothing, which was my point.
Plenty of areas have had dry conditions until a month ago, so will be unlikely to have many matures yet.