Liver fluke is a parasitic disease causing significant welfare and production losses in cattle and sheep globally, with strategic treatment and pasture management key to control.
Liver fluke causes significant welfare harm in affected cattle and sheep. Acute fasciolosis causes severe illness with liver hemorrhage and can be fatal. Chronic infection causes persistent malaise, weight loss, and reduced production - affected animals struggle to maintain condition despite adequate nutrition. The disease is insidious, often progressing without clear clinical signs until condition is significantly compromised. Strategic fluke control programs tailored to local snail habitat and seasonal transmission patterns substantially reduce both welfare harm and production losses, representing good value welfare investment.