Objectives
The objective of this project is to reduce anthelmintic resistance (AR) by determining the feasibility and practicality of implementing targeted selective treatment (TST) of helminths (worms) on Northern Ireland commercial farms. Group members will design, utilise and evaluate relevant targeted TST strategies to better understand the feasibility of their widespread use on farm.
Objectives
The objective of this project is to reduce anthelmintic resistance (AR) by determining the feasibility and practicality of implementing targeted selective treatment (TST) of helminths (worms) on Northern Ireland commercial farms. Group members will design, utilise and evaluate relevant targeted TST strategies to better understand the feasibility of their widespread use on farm.
Activities
• Determine suitable TST anthelmintic approaches for each participant farm.
• Implement TST approach on each participant farm
• Assess the impact of implementing a TST approach.
• Assess the feasibility and practicality of undertaking widescale targeted, selective treatment of anthelmintics on farms across Northern Ireland.
• Disseminate project activity and results
Activities
• Determine suitable TST anthelmintic approaches for each participant farm.
• Implement TST approach on each participant farm
• Assess the impact of implementing a TST approach.
• Assess the feasibility and practicality of undertaking widescale targeted, selective treatment of anthelmintics on farms across Northern Ireland.
• Disseminate project activity and results
Contexte
elminth (worm) infections are a hugely significant drain on production efficiency in grass-based ruminant systems such as those prevalent in Northern Ireland (NI). At present the control of parasitic helminths relies upon anthelmintics, but their widespread application at whole-herd level is leading to anthelmintic resistance (AR), reducing their effectiveness.
Problems with AR are well documented globally on sheep farms and increasingly throughout the cattle industry. In Northern Ireland, AR was detected on the majority of sheep farms, while no data is yet available for cattle. A recent study in the Republic of Ireland found poor efficacy on most beef and dairy farms, including all 16 farms on which ivermectin was assessed (with both Cooperia and Ostertagia surviving).
To tackle AR successive EU-funded research projects have investigated new strategies for sustainable worm control, primarily through changes to routine whole-herd / whole-flock treatment protocols . These focus on targeted, selective treatment (TST):
• Targeting anthelmintics at the right time to maximise epidemiological benefits, and avoid unnecessary treatments; and/or
• Leaving a proportion of the flock or herd untreated, making use of the fact that most worms are concentrated in a few individuals, and removing them will have large effects on worm transmission and herd health while reducing the number of treatments needed.
A number of research projects have investigated this TST approach in recent years with the conclusion that they could be suitable for use on commercial farms but success will largely depend on its on-farm practicality and wider economic benefit which has not yet been evaluated in Northern Ireland.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014UK06RDRP002 United Kingdom - Rural Development Programme (Regional) - Northern Ireland
Emplacement
- Main geographical location
- East of Northern Ireland
- Other geographical location
- West and South of Northern Ireland
€ 90068
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Jason Rankin
Project coordinator