Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Parasite Management and Refugia

How refugia-based parasite management improves cattle welfare while reducing anthelmintic resistance.

Key Facts

Internal parasites including lungworm and liver fluke cause chronic weight loss, coughing, and organ damage
Routine blanket treatment accelerates anthelmintic resistance, threatening future parasite control
Refugia-based treatment - treating only those animals with high parasite burdens - preserves drug efficacy
Pasture management including rotation and avoidance of wet areas reduces parasite challenge

Welfare Considerations

Parasite-related disease causes significant chronic welfare compromise in cattle through pain, reduced appetite, and organ damage. Sustainable parasite management that preserves drug efficacy protects the long-term welfare of future cattle generations as well as current ones.

What You Can Do

Consult a vet about faecal egg count testing before treating cattle with anthelmintics
Implement pasture rotation as part of a parasite management strategy
Support research into sustainable parasite vaccines that could replace chemical treatments