Livestock farmers are urged to test for liver fluke during an autumn and winter that may be 'very different' from what has been experienced in recent years.

The message underlines that relatively low and delayed occurrences of liver fluke in the past should not lead sheep farmers to become complacent this season.

This advice comes from animal health organisations Sustainable Control of Parasites of Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Cattle Parasites Sustainably (COWS).

Dr Philip Skuce of Moredun, speaking on behalf of both groups, stated that this year is 'shaping up to be quite different.'

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He explained: “It was very wet in some places this summer and autumn has seen rainfall well above average.

"Although temperatures have been quite cool, they have generally been high enough to allow fluke stages to develop across the country.”

Since 2018, a series of dry springs followed by hot, dry summers have resulted in relatively low levels of liver fluke across much of the nation.

The organisations warn that the reduced number of clinical cases and production losses in recent years may have led farmers to feel overly secure.

John Graham Brown from NADIS, who is part of SCOPS and COWS, mentioned that the liver fluke forecast highlights the primary factors influencing fluke risk, specifically temperature and rainfall.

NADIS's initial autumn forecast indicates a medium to high risk on the west coast, extending from north Wales to northern Scotland.

While the risk is relatively low in other areas, he cautioned: “With the unpredictable weather patterns, it is difficult to say with certainty how this will translate into individual on-farm risk.

"It has been relatively wet and mild this year, so it is likely snail habitats, and therefore liver fluke, will be more widespread on farms than in previous dry summers.”

Dr Skuce agrees: “Although liver fluke will be starting from a relatively low level, there is potential for the fluke population to build up this autumn into what is the traditional peak fluke season."

Veterinary surveillance from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) verifies this, with reports of clinical cases of acute fluke since September.

Dr Skuce added: “Testing remains the best option to cope with the unpredictability of fluke risk on an individual farm, avoiding treatments that are unnecessary or too early, while also making sure animals are treated in time to minimise any production losses.

“Routine testing will help you make informed decisions around the need to treat, the best product to use and also how well that treatment has worked, all of which will help in the sustainable control of liver fluke on-farm.”