Internal parasites including Haemonchus contortus and other nematodes are a major welfare challenge in sheep, with growing anthelmintic resistance requiring strategic management approaches.
Unsustainable anthelmintic use is eroding the tools available to control worm welfare burdens in sheep. Animals with heavy worm burdens experience anaemia, diarrhoea, poor growth and death. Strategic use of available treatments through targeted selective treatment, refugia management and integration of non-chemical tools protects both individual animal welfare and the long-term sustainability of parasite control.