Elanco Farm Animal Health UK

31/10/2025

I have not yet given my lambs a break dose, is it too late?

Despite worm pressures rising later this year, it is still advised to consider administering a break dose for your lambs.

By now, most lambs will have received at least one dose of a group 1-3 wormer, but resistant worms could still be present.

Giving a late season break dose of a newer group wormer will get lambs back in the green zone, enabling lambs to reach their growth potential.

31/10/2025

As tupping season gets underway, assessing ewe body condition is as important as routine teeth and udder checks.

Next year’s lamb crop starts now and so tupping ewes in optimal body condition will help to optimise lamb numbers, lamb growth and milk production.

With grass having been in short supply for many throughout the summer, it could be that ewes need additional feed supplementation to get them in the right condition pre-tupping and throughout pregnancy.

Speak to your vet or nutritionist for further advice on ewe nutrition over this winter.

30/10/2025

The complex life cycle of liver fluke means it’s important to use the right product at the right time.

Different products contain different actives which target different stages of fluke, from early immature fluke to adult.

Working with your vet to perform diagnostics can help identify which stage of fluke is present within the animal, and therefore which product offers the most effective treatment.

Elanco Farm Animal Health UK

29/10/2025

I have limited grass right now, should I prioritise grazing my ewes or lambs?

Efficient use of grass is even more important this year, as we head into autumn with a predicted forage shortage in parts of the country.

If you have to decide between ewes and lambs, consider giving ewes the grass to give them the best chance of maintaining a good body condition and give next year’s lamb crop the best chance.

Alternatives worth considering for lambs this autumn include:
- Graze lambs on winter root crops if available
- Finish lambs indoors, but it is important lambs are in the ‘green zone’ before they are housed
- Sell them in the stores, if feed is options are really short

28/10/2025

When do worms become a problem?

🟢 Green zone – some worms present but not enough to
affect growth rates
🟡 Amber zone – moderate worm burden, no signs of ill health, but growth rates have already slowed down
🔴 Red zone – high worm burden, there will now be visible signs which may include scouring and weight loss

Ideally, we want lambs to be in the green zone – they may have worms, but they are at a low level and doesn’t adversely affect their growth.

When worm burdens get a bit higher the lambs move into the amber zone. This is when the worms are starting to damage the gut and the lambs can’t use the food they eat as well, meaning growth suffers.

Once lambs get into the red zone, this is when we can see some visible signs of the worms. At this stage food absorption is being affected, so little or no energy is used for growth to such an extent that lambs may actually lose weight.

24/10/2025

While the dry summer may well delay liver fluke infections, it’s best to keep a close look out for signs from now onwards and test for antibodies to identify fluke as early as possible.

When it comes to liver fluke, there is no safe level of infection and even small numbers can impact animal health, but there are some practical ways to manage the risk.

Fluke only occurs where the mud snails live, so if you are able to fence off boggy areas of fields with temporary fencing, you can really help alleviate the risk while retaining use of most of the pasture.

SCOPS is an excellent resource for more information.

23/10/2025

The variation of fluke risk across the UK is significant, with first infections ranging from early autumn to mid-winter.

This means the best approach is to test and not guess to determine if and when animals need treatment.

A serum antibody ELISA test (via blood) is recommended to help with early detection of liver fluke – antibodies can be detected from as early as two weeks post infection which is much quicker than other testing methods.

Your animal health advisor is your best port of call for advice on liver fluke testing and control, but The Parasight also offers some helpful guidance.

21/10/2025

Liver fluke can be tricky to spot before the damage is already done, here are the main signs to look out for:

• Reduced activity - sheep may appear weak and lethargic with reduced grazing activity
• Loss of condition despite adequate nutrition - fluke can cause a rapid loss of condition and poor fleece quality
• Bottle-jaw - most fluke cases cause a build-up of fluid under the animal’s jaw caused by anaemia due to the parasitic infection
• Death - in serious cases, fluke may cause sudden death of sheep

Fluke risk varies considerably year-to year so it’s best to reach out to your animal health advisor for guidance.

20/10/2025

🚨 Liver fluke season is here but after a hot and dry summer, what’s the risk?

In areas where rainfall has been low, it’s likely that grazing animals will pick liver fluke up off pasture later than normal. But, the risk is going to be very variable across the UK so don’t assume fluke is not a concern yet.

The Parasight also offers timely updates, you can sign up via the link in the comments.

20/10/2025

Congratulations to George and Nicola Wordie Livestock_farmher who won Sheep Farmer of the Year at the British Farming Awards last week!
The judges praised them for their teamwork through hard times, showing adaptability, resistance and a positive attitude to trying new things to build a strong business. 👏

winners of Sheep Farmer of the Year are George and Nicola Wordie 🏆

The judges thought George and Nicola’s relationship really stood out - working together through hard times showed adaptability, resistance and a positive attitude to trying new things and building a strong business.

Congratulations George and Nicola!

Morrisons Ceva Animal Health UK Farmers Guardian

17/10/2025

With worm egg counts suddenly shooting up after the rain, do you need to give your lambs a break dose with a newer group wormer?

Here’s a handy reminder on best practice when treating lambs with a newer group wormer this autumn:
1. Weigh lambs and dose according to the heaviest in the group
2. Check drench gun is calibrated accurately
3. Administer correctly, over the back of the tongue
4. Leave lambs on dirty pasture for four to five days before moving – don't dose and move!

The two occasions when a newer group wormer should be routinely used are quarantine, and mid/late season as a ‘one off’ annual drench for lambs.

Seek advice from your vet or animal health advisor if you are unsure.

16/10/2025

A FEC test is only as good as the sample!
Faecal egg counts should be taken ideally every 3-4 weeks in order to determine when your flock requires a wormer, here are some pointers to help you get a good quality sample:
1. Gather sheep in the corner of a field or pen
2. Hold sheep there for 5-10 minutes
3. Aim to collect a minimum of 15 fresh dung samples at around 3-5 grams each (about a teaspoon!) from different piles and place in a bag
4. Keep samples cool and deliver to vet or laboratory within 48 hours

Interpretating FEC test results can be complex and is best discussed with your vet or animal health adviser.