Liver fluke is a major parasite causing significant welfare problems in sheep and cattle, with its spread linked to wet conditions and management practices.
Liver fluke infection causes significant suffering ranging from chronic ill health with weight loss and anaemia to acute mortality in severe cases. The pain and weakness of chronic fluke infection impairs feeding, social behaviour and quality of life in affected animals. Drug treatment is effective but becoming complicated by resistance. Integrated management combining pasture management, snail habitat reduction and targeted strategic treatment reduces welfare burden while managing resistance. Farmers who monitor fluke risk forecasts and implement appropriate strategies significantly reduce preventable suffering in their flocks and herds.