Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Liver Fluke Climate-Driven Spread

Climate change is expanding the geographic range and seasonal window for liver fluke infection in UK sheep, increasing the welfare and economic burden on flocks.

Key Facts

Liver fluke requires wet conditions and specific snail habitats to complete its life cycle
Warmer, wetter autumns are extending fluke transmission seasons in upland and lowland UK farms
Acute fasciolosis causes sudden death; chronic disease causes weight loss, anaemia, and ill-thrift
Anthelmintic resistance in liver fluke populations is a growing concern
Drainage improvement, snail habitat management, and strategic treatment reduce fluke burden

Welfare Considerations

Climate-driven liver fluke expansion will increase chronic suffering in sheep flocks without adaptive management; integrating climate projections into fluke risk assessment is essential.

What You Can Do

Monitor local fluke risk through annual forecasts from NADIS and veterinary advisors
Implement strategic treatment programmes based on risk rather than calendar dates
Invest in drainage improvements and snail habitat management on high-risk pastures