Wormer videos launched to challenge anthelmintic resistance
AHDB
| AHDB Beef and Lamb
Sheep producers now have access to best practice worming advice with the launch of a new series of informative videos produced BY AHDB Beef Lamb.
The videos have been created to help farmers manage the growing problem of anthelmintic resistance which has been identified across the country.
The 14 short videos, which are hosted on the levy board’s YouTube channel, Beef Lamb TV, are produced in conjunction with Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and presented by sheep expert Lesley Stubbings along with independent vet Chris Lewis.
Lesley, who also hosted an AHDB Beef Lamb teleconference on the subject recently, said: “As the UK sheep industry has become more reliant on pastures grazed by sheep alone, so the dependence of effective anthelmintics has increased.
“Unfortunately this heavy use, and in some cases misuse, of these relatively cheap products has led to the development of anthelmintic resistance. It is vital that the industry is able to control worms in the years to come, as failure to do so could have a huge negative impact on farmers.”
The videos cover topics such as; explaining anthelmintic resistance, correct dosing, drenching and injecting techniques, effective quarantine, calibrating a gun/injector, faecal egg counts, Nematodirus and more. They aim to arm producers with information to help them tackle parasites effectively.
Katie Brian, Better Returns Programme (BRP) project manager for AHDB Beef Lamb, said: “It is vital that farmers understand the importance of worming correctly so that the treatment is effective. The videos we have produced are just a few minutes in length each, yet are full of practical take-home information to help producers.
“They are free to access and can be watched in the farm office or on any mobile or tablet device. Users just need to visit Beef Lamb TV and look for the Sheep Anthelmintics playlist.”
The video series follows on from a similar set of videos produced by AHDB Beef Lamb which demonstrate how to administer anthelmintics in cattle which were produced in collaboration with Control Of Worms Sustainably (COWS) and presented by farm vet Robert Smith.
More information on worm control is available from the BRP manuals Growing and finishing lambs for Better Returns (manual 5) and Worm control in sheep for Better Returns (manual 8) and also the SCOPS website: www.scops.org.uk/.
