Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Liver Fluke Management and Welfare

Fasciolosis caused by liver fluke causes significant welfare harm in cattle and sheep, with climate change extending fluke habitat and increasing disease burden.

Key Facts

Fasciola hepatica affects cattle and sheep causing weight loss, anaemia and liver damage
The snail intermediate host Galba truncatula requires wet, poached areas to proliferate
Climate change is extending fluke habitat to previously unaffected areas
Flukicide treatment must match liver fluke life stage to drug class efficacy
Resistance to triclabendazole is developing in fluke populations in some regions

Welfare Considerations

Liver fluke causes chronic suffering through liver damage, debilitation and anaemia that progresses over months. Strategic treatment using appropriate drugs for the prevailing season and fluke stage reduces welfare harm. Drainage and pasture management reduces snail habitat and fluke challenge.

What You Can Do

Support farms with documented strategic fluke monitoring and treatment programmes
Advocate for fluke resistance monitoring requirements in livestock certification
Choose certified beef and sheep products from farms demonstrating low fluke welfare burden