Internal parasites including liver fluke cause significant welfare harm in cattle and other livestock. Effective parasite management balances welfare improvement with antimicrobial resistance concerns.
Liver fluke infection causes chronic suffering in affected cattle through debilitating body condition loss, anaemia, and impaired organ function. Effective fluke control requires accurate diagnosis, strategic treatment timing, and integration of pasture management. Over-reliance on flukicides without diagnostics increases resistance risk, while under-treatment allows welfare compromise. Evidence-based parasite management, guided by regular faecal egg counts and bulk tank milk testing, optimises welfare outcomes while preserving drug efficacy.