Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Liver Fluke Welfare Management

Liver fluke is a serious welfare problem in cattle on wet lowland pastures, causing liver damage, weight loss and mortality.

Key Facts

Fasciola hepatica infects cattle grazing on wet pastures where mud snails survive
Acute fluke causes sudden death; chronic fluke causes gradual weight loss and anaemia
Strategic treatment in autumn and spring prevents peak burdens
Triclabendazole resistance in fluke populations is an emerging concern
Pasture management including drainage reduces snail habitat and fluke transmission

Welfare Considerations

Chronic liver fluke causes prolonged suffering through liver damage, anaemia and malnutrition. The welfare case for strategic prevention and early treatment is clear, and pasture management reducing snail habitat addresses the root cause.

What You Can Do

Implement strategic fluke monitoring and treatment programmes on at-risk farms
Conduct FECRT to check triclabendazole efficacy before assuming treatment is working
Pursue pasture drainage improvements to reduce mud snail habitat on wet farms