An Integrated Parasite Control Framework for Ruminants

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Parasites, if they are not controlled effectively, have a major impact on the productivity, health and welfare of sheep and cattle. Cattle and sheep pick up parasites, such as roundworms, whilst they graze. These parasites are normally controlled by treating the whole flock or herd with a worming medicine that either prevents infection or that kills the parasites before they cause damage. However, this type of approach to parasite control has resulted in the development of resistance to the medicines used, meaning the parasites are no longer killed by the treatment. In this project we will identify ways in which the control of parasitic diseases could be improved to reduce the impact and spread of resistance. We will focus on roundworm parasites found in the stomach and intestines of sheep, since anthelmintic resistance is prevalent in sheep roundworm populations, and it is a growing threat to the sheep industry in the UK.To achieve this aim we will first establish in partnership with farmers, vets and Registered Animal Medicine Advisors, what farmers need enable them to integrate new parasite control strategies on their farms. Secondly, using mathematical models, we will identify new options that could be used to improve parasite control on farms. These models will build on existing mathematical models and develop them further to include farm and stock management data together with parasite burdens within individual animals. In this way the impact on parasite burden of specific interventions such as selecting heavily parasitised individual animals to treat or changing to a mob-based pasture management system can be assessed before they are rolled out onto farms. The outputs from the project will be a better understanding of what inhibits farmers from adopting new approaches to parasite control and secondly will present new options that could be used on farms to improve parasite control.