The main objective is to obtain reliable and representative diagnostic information that allows targeted, evidence-based deworming, ensuring treatments are applied only when justified, while reducing unnecessary anthelmintic use and limiting the development of resistance.

For the collection of faecal samples, follow the instructions provided in the Practical Abstract entitled, "Are my animals infected by worms?, Easy protocols to diagnose your animals and prevent possible production-limitations".

WHEN: Deworm animals strategically based on periods of highest infection risk and the specific productive or physiological stage of each group.
See strategies: 'timing based on parasite epidemiology or 'timing according to productive and physiological stage'

HOW: Collect and handle representative faecal samples properly to guide targeted, evidence-based treatments that maximise effectiveness and minimise unnecessary anthelmintic use.
Sample collection and handling for decision-making 

• Sample a representative number of animals:
• A minimum of 10 animals per group should be sampled on the selected farms (Kaplan, 2020).
• When feasible, sampling a higher number of animals will improve the precision of the results.
• Collect individual rectal faecal samples using a clean glove, taking a minimum of 5 g per animal (preferably 10 g).
• Samples must always be obtained directly from the rectum to avoid environmental contamination.
• Samples should be clearly labelled immediately after collection.
• Samples must be transported under refrigerated conditions on the same day they are collected.
• If same-day shipment is not possible, samples should be stored under refrigeration and the cold chain must be maintained until shipment on the following day.
• All samples should reach the laboratory and be processed within 24 hours of collection to ensure reliable diagnostic outcomes. 

Faecal analyses are essential for monitoring parasites in livestock farming. They enable the identification and quantification of the main digestive and even pulmonary parasites excreted in faeces, thereby facilitating the selection of appropriate control measures for the parasites present on the farm. The French experiments conducted as part of the SPARC project were based on these analyses. What are the key points of a relevant faecal analysis?

The sample must be taken from the rectum to avoid any environmental contamination. For each batch, ten individual samples are generally recommended; this number may be adjusted according to the size of the batch. Five to ten faecal samples per animal should be taken, i.e. 10 to 25 g. Sampling animals of different ages, physiological stages and body conditions ensures that the sample is representative of the herd. Do not sample animals that have been treated with worming medication in the last 15 days, or animals in the clinic, as part of parasite monitoring in livestock farming. To ensure the homogeneity of the analyses, the individual samples must be mixed by a veterinarian or laboratory technician according to a specific protocol. Optimal monitoring is based on regular sampling, ideally every two months, from the start of grazing until the animals return to the barn. Correctly identified samples must be sent to the laboratory within 24 hours, kept at a positive cold temperature, and accompanied by a detailed information sheet. 

The prerequisites for interpreting a coprological analysis are the quality of the sample collection, transport, the choice of the right analysis method and consideration of the epidemiological context of livestock farming.

• Faecal analysis : how to interpret the results ?

The spring scour worm, Nematodirus battus, can cause severe disease in lambs aged 6-12 weeks of age. This occurs when infective larvae hatch from overwintered eggs on pasture. If young lambs are grazing on contaminated pasture at that time they can be overwhelmed by infection.

The temperature cues for hatching of overwintered eggs were worked out and applied in a predictive model. This is available online during the risk period to guide farmers in the UK and their advisors. Use of anthelmintics or other strategies can consequently be timed more accurately in relation to peak larval availability.

Farmers should look regularly at the forecast in spring, to be aware of when eggs shed by last year’s lambs are likely to hatch in their area.

If lambs are grazing contaminated pastures at this time, they are at risk of encountering high levels of infection. Farmers could respond by treating lambs with anthelmintics to protect them, or using alternative pastures not used by last year’s lamb crop. The forecast can also be used to plan grazing in future, referring to historical patterns of hatching at that location.
Treating based on faecal nematode egg counts is not appropriate for this parasite, as disease occurs mainly during the pre-patent period when worms are immature and eggs are not present in the faeces.
Advisors can use the map to support conversations with their clients on timely treatment and risk management. 

• SCOPS spring scour forecast (map is available in spring months)

Mixed-species grazing is a strategy whereby cattle and sheep/goats are grazed together or alternately, offering a natural and efficient solution to worm control. Most gastrointestinal parasites are host-specific, therefore alternating species on the same pasture interrupts the parasite life cycle, lowering infection risk for both groups while improving grass utilisation and regrowth. 

Research and on-farm trials show that mixed-species grazing can significantly reduce faecal egg counts and improve daily liveweight gains without additional anthelmintic treatments. Cattle can “clean” pastures for sheep/goat parasites, and vice versa, while allowing more grass to be grazed than in single-species systems. This approach reduces anthelmintic use and enhances pasture productivity.

Mixed-species grazing is particularly suitable for farms already managing both cattle and small ruminants. It supports integrated parasite management and sustainable pasture use without additional chemical inputs. The system could use different species combinations, for example horses and cattle, or horses and sheep, or horses, cattle and sheep/goats.  

Careful attention should be paid to fencing, efficient grass utilisation, and the avoidance of aggressive interactions between species. 

As with all new management systems, monitoring of health, welfare and performance is recommended. Adjustments should be made for local circumstances and over time to arrive at a robust and workable system for a specific farm.

Control and prevention of gastrointestinal parasitism in dairy sheep and goats are essential for animal health and welfare, milk productivity, and the safety and quality of dairy products. Although antiparasitic drugs are a key tool for parasite control, increasing anthelmintic resistance and strict restrictions on their use during the milking period considerably limit available treatment options. During lactation, the use of antiparasitic products that are excreted in milk is prohibited or requires long withdrawal periods, rendering milk unsuitable for processing and human consumption. 

This practice promotes an integrated and sustainable approach to parasite prevention and control, based on systematic monitoring of parasite burden and the application of targeted management practices. The objective is to reduce infection risk and minimize the need for drug treatments during the milking period.

Practitioners can implement this parasite control approach by scheduling regular fecal egg count (FEC) monitoring and clinical assessments 2-3 times during the milking period to identify infected animals for targeted pre-lactation deworming, while prioritizing rotational grazing, bioactive plant supplements, stress reduction, and improved housing hygiene as primary preventive measures. Key costs include laboratory testing fees, bioactive feed supplements, labor for grazing management and stable maintenance, plus initial farmer training time. Benefits substantially exceed costs through reduced anthelmintic purchases, elimination of milk withdrawal periods for full production marketability, higher milk yields from healthier animals, lower veterinary treatment expenses, and long-term prevention of resistance development, ultimately ensuring regulatory compliance, enhanced animal welfare, and access to premium dairy markets.

There are a large number of anthelmintic products on the market for treating against worms. The active ingredients in these products can be grouped into classes of medicines that have a similar method of action or are related to each other. To help understand these groups, a colour system is used for broad-spectrum anthelmintics in countries such as the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand. The system allows farmers and veterinarians to easily identify the active chemical group when selecting anthelmintics.

The broad-spectrum anthelmintics aimed at treating roundworms are grouped by Colour, Group Name, Active Ingredient 

• White - Benzimidazoles (BZ) - Albendazole, Fenbendazole, Oxfendazole
• Yellow - Levamisole (LV) - Levamisole
• Clear - Macrocyclic lactones (ML) - Abamectin, Doramectin, Eprinomectin, Ivermectin, Moxidectin
• Orange - Amino acetonitrile derivatives (AD) - Monepantel
• Purple - Spiroindoles (SI) - Derquantel **
  Purple Drench – Derquantel is currently only available as a combination product with Abamectin

Orange and Purple drenches are only available for sheep and are considered the new anthelmintic classes.
Targeted medicines such as flukicides, ectoparasitic products, and coccidiostats are not colour coded. Combination products have active ingredients from multiple groups, typically a wormer and a flukicide.

Why is this useful?

Side resistance is the concept that when there is resistance to one anthelmintic in a group, there is usually resistance to all medicines in the same group as they have a similar chemical structure and mechanism of action. For example, if resistance to albendazole is present, then all “white wormers” (1-BZ) will be affected i.e. fenbendazole, oxfendazole. If a farmer is known to have a resistance to a particular group, it makes it easier to identify remaining actives that might work on the farm by selecting an anthelmintic from a different colour group.
Your veterinary practitioner can advise on how best to test for resistance and which products to use.

Knowing how the weather impacts parasites can be a useful tool in any farmer’s box.  The risk of infection is often seasonal as parasites are weather dependant, spending most of their life-cycle in the environment outside of the animal host.

Roundworms 

Winter survival of eggs and larvae on the pastures influences infection rates at turnout in the spring. Typically, we see peak worm burdens in July and August in summer rainfall areas.  Whilst very dry periods can kill off larvae on the ground, worms can survive by migrating down into the soil or within dung pats. When there is a burst of rain after this period, there can be an explosion of worms – often seen with lungworm.  

Liver and rumen fluke

The mud snail is the core of the fluke life cycle, being used as an intermediate host and thrives in wet weather in spring and summer. Once the fluke are shed from the snail they can infect grazing cattle. This usually happens from autumn to winter but animals can be infected early in the spring season by liver fluke that overwinter in the snails or on the grass.  Harsh, cold weather or droughts kill off the mud snails therefore reducing the liver fluke.

Knowing how to react post weather events, for example:

• A dry spell followed by heavy rainfall - be aware to watch out for clinical signs in your calves such as coughing (lungworm).
• After a cold winter – possible higher worm infections earlier in season – start faecal sampling earlier to monitor.
• If it’s been a wet summer, factor in your “flukey” fields, try to avoid them or if this is not possible, try to fence off the wettest areas.
• Monitor animals closely when worm burden peaks are expected.

There is no one size fits all in the case of parasite control, rainfall differs around the country, soil type can be different just a field away, etc. Each farm has their own specific circumstances, meaning an individual approach is needed. Having tools such as understanding weather effects on parasites can make the job a lot easier.

Helminth infections in grazing ruminants, together with the increasing phenomenon of anthelmintic resistance, represent a growing threat to animal health and the productive sustainability of livestock farming in many European countries. Farmers and veterinarians often lack accessible, up-to-date and territorially specific information to support effective and targeted parasite control strategies, leading to unnecessary or ineffective treatments.

To address this challenge, the SPARC project developed an interactive WebGIS that allows users to visualize updated data on the distribution of helminths, authorized anthelmintic drugs and documented cases of resistance at national and regional levels. The WebGIS integrates information from official databases, scientific publications and European projects. Data are organised into four layers: ruminant population, helminth prevalence, registered anthelmintics and anthelmintic resistance. Interactive maps, available for several European countries, display the epidemiological and therapeutic situation of each area using colour scales or proportional circles, facilitating risk assessment.

The SPARC WebGIS is a practical decision-support tool for farmers, advisors and veterinarians. It helps identify areas with high helminth prevalence or confirmed resistance, avoid unnecessary treatments where certain active substances are ineffective, select the most appropriate anthelmintic based on local data, and plan targeted interventions. The WebGIS should be used in combination with on-farm parasitological analyses, production data and clinical signs to support sustainable and informed parasite control strategies.

• SPARC WebGIS: interactive platform for helminth monitoring and anthelmintic res…

Gastrointestinal nematode infections remain one of the main constraints on lamb and calf growth and farm profitability. Traditional control strategies rely heavily on anthelmintic treatments, increasing the risk of anthelmintic resistance. Farmers often face challenges in maintaining parasite control while trying to optimise pasture use and growth performance. Cows and ewes contaminate the pasture for their offspring due to high faecal egg counts soon after birth. Creep grazing in the pre-weaning period, where younger animals are given access to “clean” pastures that mothers cannot reach, offers an opportunity to reduce worm exposure naturally.

Research shows that young lambs grazing low-contamination fields gain significant health and performance benefits, including lower faecal egg counts, better weight gain, and reduced need for anthelmintic treatment. Virtual fencing using electric collars to train ewes not to cross into the protected grazing area is an innovation that could improve the practicality of creep grazing.

The main costs relate to simple fencing and gate setup which are outweighed by the benefits of better growth rates and reduced reliance on anthelmintic use – reducing the risk of anthelmintic resistance.
Fencing must be effective and safe, holding ewes back while letting lambs through freely to clean grazing, and back to their mothers for lactation. Typically this can be achieved by wire with suitable height, gap width or aperture size. The best design should take account of local terrain and the breed and behavioural traits. Care must be taken that animals do not get caught in poorly designed fencing.  
The fence might need to be moved to allow adequate nutrition of both ewes and lambs, depending on grass growth. Ewes might experience some initial stress being unable to join their lambs but become habituated. 

A lot of scientific knowledge has been produced on sustainable worm control and anthelmintic resistance. However, this knowledge does not flow into practice. SPARC tackles this challenge through Communities of Practice (CoPs), where farmers, veterinarians and advisors work together with researchers to find evidence-based solutions that also fit real farm conditions. Why multi-actor? Sustainable worm control is complex: what works in one region or species may fail elsewhere. CoPs turn this complexity into opportunity by combining practical experience with scientific insight.

Nine regional CoPs and one European SPARC CoP have been established, involving over 500 members and more than 150 pilot farms. These networks have created strong engagement through farm visits and demo’s, meetings, webinars and cross-country exchanges. Farmers share experiences, ambassadors lead by example, and advisors help translate knowledge into action. This collaborative model builds trust, accelerates adoption and fosters innovation.

Farmers gain direct access to peers and experts, share what works and learn from others. Ambassadors lead by example, showing that sustainable worm control can cut unnecessary treatments, save money and protect productivity. CoPs also create visibility and influence . Members help shape future practices and policies. The bottom line? Joining a CoP means smarter decisions, lower costs and stronger resilience against resistance. Collaboration is good practice.

• The communities of practice Playbook (JRC)

Gastrointestinal nematode infections constitute one of the most serious health problems in goat and sheep farming, directly affecting animal welfare and the profitability of production. These parasites inhabit the stomach and intestines, damaging the mucosal lining, disrupting digestion and nutrient absorption, and in the case of blood-feeding species, leading to significant blood loss.​

Gastrointestinal nematodes exert a harmful effect on the bodies of goats and sheep through mechanical damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa and by disturbing the processes of digestion and nutrient absorption. These parasites utilize the host’s nutrients, leading to deficiencies of energy, protein, vitamins, and microelements, which results in poor body condition, reduced productivity, and weakened immunity. Particularly dangerous are blood-feeding species such as Haemonchus contortus, which feed on blood, causing blood loss, anemia, and disturbances in protein metabolism. In addition, nematode metabolic by-products have toxic and irritating effects, intensifying intestinal inflammation and reducing both local and systemic immunity.​

The most commonly observed clinical signs include gradually progressive weight loss and inhibited weight gain, even under proper feeding conditions. Animals become apathetic, less active, lie down more frequently, and show a reduced appetite. In dairy sheep and goats, a marked decrease in milk yield and deterioration of milk quality are observed. The hair coat or fleece becomes dull, rough, and brittle, which indicates nutritional deficiencies and chronic physiological stress.​

A frequent symptom of intestinal nematode infection is diarrhea of variable severity—from loose feces to watery diarrhea, sometimes with mucus. The perianal area may be soiled, which predisposes animals to secondary skin infections. In cases of heavy infestation, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances may occur, which are particularly dangerous for young animals.​

In sheep, in order to limit resistance, it is advisable to deworm using the weight of the heaviest animal in the flock, as it is difficult to individualise the dose. As a consequence, the quantities administered are systematically higher than the real needs. Dosing guns connected to a weighing system are available on the market. They automatically calculate the dose to be administered per ewe, respecting the dosage of each product. 

Tests carried out with an automatic gun combined with a conveyor belt for weighing the ewes showed that this practice required twice as much time compared with treatments carried out in the alley or at the feed fence. This difference seems to be linked not only to the time spent weighing the ewes, but also to the work site. On the other hand, the savings in antiparasitic product were 25% compared with treatment using a conventional spray gun and a dose adjusted for the heaviest ewe in the flock. 

This type of equipment offers real savings in terms of pest control products (25% in this study), without any reduction in effectiveness. 

Working time is increased by more than 50% with the equipment compared. 

According to recent studies conducted in France, incorporating plantain into grazed pastures is not an effective means of controlling digestive strongyles in weaned lambs and replacement ewes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate plantain grazing as an alternative to antiparasitic treatment.

In our trials, whether in the form of two-week courses of treatment or continuous feeding, grazing on plantain had no effect on excretion levels in lambs and ewe lambs on grass in the vast majority of trials (Tables 1 and 2). In two-thirds of the trials, the number of eggs counted in the animals' faeces increased during grazing and was equivalent to that of animals grazing on plots without plantain. Furthermore, the number of worms counted in the digestive tracts of the lambs suggests that plantain is not effective. In both trials, a 40% increase was recorded for lambs grazing on plantain compared to those without it. 

Plantain is an interesting plant for grazing because it has good nutritional value but no antiparasitic effect. It is not a substitute for treatment. 

The challenge we address is to move away from routine preventive anthelmintic treatments in grazing heifers, because treatment frequency is a known risk factor for the development of anthelmintic resistance. A crucial requirement to delay anthelmintic resistance is to maintain a sufficient proportion of the worm population in refugia, i.e., the proportion of the worm population that is not exposed to anthelmintics (worms on pasture and in untreated animals). 

Our objective is to show that refugia can be created and maintained by targeted treatment of first grazing season cattle based on a risk assessment of the pasture infection level with gastrointestinal nematodes.

The Wormtool decision support tool, described in Practice abstract 10, assists veterinarians and farmers to tailor anthelmintic treatments to the specific needs of each herd, thereby avoiding unnecessary treatments.
The required information for the risk analysis is obtained during a short conversation (e.g. using a checklist or short questionnaire) prior to the start of the grazing season. This implies a (limited) time investment for both the farmer and the veterinarian. 
A benefit for the farmer is that development of anthelmintic resistance should be delayed on their farm and that costs associated with anthelmintic treatments can be reduced. A benefit for the veterinarians is that they get more involved in worm control practices on their clients’ farms. 

Application of the Wormtool decision support tool should optimise anthelmintic treatments, while maintaining animal productivity and adequate worm control. In the longer term, a more rational use of anthelmintics should slow down the development of anthelmintic resistance and reduce environmental contamination with drug residues.

• Het creëren van refugia door gerichte behandling van grazend vee in het eerste …

Prevention is better than cure; conducting fecal examinations is crucial for reducing anthelminthic resistance. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology can now accelerate this process. 

Fecal Egg Counts (FEC) and liver fluke analysis can now be performed using advanced AI-based equipment. It is essential to collect fecal samples from at least five different animals. Subsamples are then taken from various parts of each sample and accurately weighed. NaCl solution is added and the mixture is subsequently filtered. The resulting liquid is drawn into a syringe and injected into a cassette, preparing the sample for microscopic analysis. The AI-powered microscope captures and analyzes over one million images to identify different parasite species and quantify the number of eggs or oocysts present. Up to 150.000 parasites can be counted in a single analysis. The results are displayed on-screen within minutes, providing detailed egg counts per parasite species. Interpretations of these results remain the responsibility of the veterinarian. The main advantage of this technology is the significant reduction in the time veterinarians spend on fecal analysis. This allows them to process more samples per day, increasing diagnostic capacity.

Prevention is better than cure; conducting fecal analysis is essential to help reduce resistance to anthelmintic treatments. Rather than routinely deworming the entire herd, fecal testing first allows determination of whether the animals are infected and, if so, with which parasite species. If no infection is detected, treatment is unnecessary. If infection is present, the most appropriate anthelmintic can be selected based on the findings. Moreover, targeted treatment of individual animals or smaller groups instead of the entire herd, enables more precise and sustainable parasite control. Most importantly, a follow-up fecal examination should be performed approximately two weeks after deworming to verify the efficacy of the treatment.

SPARC ambassador Marieke de Louw, who is both a veterinarian and a phytotherapist, explains that incorporating a variety of plant species into pastures provides animals exposure to a diverse range of bacterial stems. These develop within the rumen, resulting in a more stable and resilient rumen microbiome. As a result, not only does rumen function improve, but overall animal health and resilience against parasitic infections increase as well.

Implementing herbal ley offers numerous benefits for both animals and soil. Such pastures typically contain chicory, Ribworth plantain, various grass species, clovers, and yarrow. Chicory in particular is known to contain tannins. These tannins help prevent parasites from establishing themselves within the host’s body, reducing their reproduction rate and the number of eggs excreted onto the pasture. This, in turn, lowers the infection pressure. Chicory roots also contain inulin, which serves as a natural prebiotic. Additionally, the roots improve soil permeability, enhancing overall soil quality. These herbs should only be grazed for a maximum of three days to allow sufficient recovery time. Forage hedges often include hazel and willow, both of which contain tannins in their bark. It is common to see animals stripping leaves and scraping bark from these plants. The purpose of such forage hedges is to allow animals to access trace elements and minerals whenever they need them. Because animals can selectively consume a diverse range of species according to their needs, this promotes a healthy gut flora, which in turn enhances natural resistance to parasitic infections.

Programs​
​
Through various programs — including Gribb, Nedap CowControl, UNIFORM-Agri, and AgroVision — farmers can now easily keep records related to animal health. Smart apps can scan ear tags, allowing the farmer to access information about their herd directly from their phone while in the barn. Farmers can also view and collect data on their computers. Most farmers use this data to detect abnormalities, such as reduced activity or signs of heat. Feed intake is also commonly monitored.​ But farmers can also use this data to follow up on growth during the grazing season to keep track with signs of worms.

Worm management​

For sheep, and youngstock as well, animals can be weighed periodically (for example every two weeks). This can be registered in the program of your choice. This makes it possible to establish a growth curve for each individual animal as well as for the herd average. If, during the grazing season, it is found that some animals are falling behind in their growth curve, these animals can be individually tested and treated for worm infections. This reduces the need for anthelminthic treatments and allows for targeted treatment of individual animals instead of the entire herd. Farmers can also compare how growth curves differ between treated and untreated animals. Some have noticed that animals which were not treated show better growth than animals that are treated with anthelmintics. Because they gradually build up natural resistance to worm infections over time.​

By weighing lambs, growth and overall health can be monitored closely. It is particularly interesting to compare growth before, during and after the grazing season. This can help detect pasture-related infections at an early stage.​

Regularly weighing animals and using data to register and monitor these results can therefore contribute positively to the early detection of worm infections.

Breeding for the trait “resistance to worms” is a theme that more and more farmers are engaging with. By selecting and using more resistant rams for breeding, a more resilient generation can be developed.

The NFSO (Dutch Sheep and Goat Breeders’ Organization) is conducting research on breeding values for worm resistance. To select the right rams, breeders can take a cheek mucus sample using a swab and have it tested for antibodies (IgA). The number of antibodies is then expressed as an index. The higher the antibody count, the more effectively the development and reproduction of worms are suppressed. This method is primarily effective against Haemonchus (barber’s pole worm) but also works for Trichostrongylus and Teladorsagia. Breeding values for worm resistance are currently available for Texel and Swifter sheep.

Ewes shed the most eggs during the period after lambing. Ewes that shed fewer eggs demonstrate higher resistance to worm infections. The male offspring of these resistant ewes can then be used for further breeding. Through the index, farmers can also identify ewes that bring the highest infection levels to the pasture and choose to remove them from the flock. This allows continued breeding with resistant rams and low-shedding ewes. This combination results in a new generation that is resistant to worm infections and more resilient when infections do occur.

Effective grazing management in sheep farming contributes to sustainable worm control. An effective approach involves collaboration with arable – and dairy farmers in the surrounding area. In autumn and winter for example, sheep can graze on cover crops of arable farmers and/or on the grass pastures of dairy farmers.

Grazing on cover crops at arable farms:
After harvesting in late summer and autumn, sheep can graze on the newly sown cover crops. This offers several advantages:  

For the sheep farmer:  
-A varied diet for the animals.  
-Recovery of own pastures that have been previously grazed.  
-Reduction of infection pressure on own land.  

For the arable farmer:  
-Less work associated with mowing cover crops.  
-Sheep convert the cover crops through fermentation into fertile organic manure.  
-Faster nutrient availability in the soil, which benefits the subsequent crop.  

Grazing on grass pastures of dairy farmers:
In winter, sheep can graze on grass pastures that have already been grazed by dairy cattle. This also provides advantages:  

For the sheep farmer:  
-Own pastures receive rest and recovery.

For the dairy farmer:  
-Sheep consume grass left behind by the cows, improving soil quality and grass productivity.  

Main shared advantage:   
The worm’s life cycle will break, because sheep and cattle are sensitive to different worm species, meaning that cross-infection does not occur. This interrupts the life cycle of the worms present and reduces the worm burden on the pasture.

Together you are strong; explore the possibilities of collaborating with local arable farmers and/or dairy farmers to create mutual benefits for both parties.

Grazing livestock naturally pick up worm larvae from pasture, but the level of infection varies strongly throughout the season. Farmers often struggle to determine when infection pressure is rising and when preventive actions should be taken. Decisions on monitoring, grazing management, or anthelmintic treatment are therefore frequently made without clear insight into the underlying risk. Infection levels are strongly driven by rainfall and temperature, which influence how fast worm eggs hatch, develop and survive on pasture. A simple and practical way to visualise climate-driven parasite risk can help farmers and veterinarians make better-informed decisions.

A climate-based nowcast tool has been developed to estimate the monthly pasture infection risk of gastrointestinal nematodes in cattle. By combining local climatic data with biological parameters describing parasite development, the model predicts how many infective larvae are likely to be present on pasture each month. The nowcast shows when infection risk is increasing or decreasing and provides an early-warning indicator that helps users anticipate periods of higher challenge. The method is based on established parasite-climate modelling approaches (e.g., GLOWORM-FL; Rose et al., 2015).

Farmers and veterinarians can use the nowcast to optimise the timing of monitoring, adjust grazing rotations, and plan strategic treatments only when needed. This can reduce unnecessary anthelmintic use, lower costs, and support sustainable parasite control. The nowcast is freely available on the Wormwize® website, where users can explore historical and current infection risk for their region (https://wormwize.eu/nowcast/).

• The monthly parasite infection nowcast tool is freely available on Wormwize® we…

Parasite management plays a key role for health, welfare, and performance of your animals. However, increasing anthelmintic resistances pose a serious threat.
To keep your animals healthy in the long term, it is important to move away from routine deworming and use sustainable strategies instead.
The website www.weide-parasiten.de has been developed to give farmers in German-speaking countries practical and reliable support in parasite management. 

www.weide-parasiten.de highlights the key points for successful and sustainable worm control in your flock. 

• How do resistances develop, and how can I prevent them?
• How can I use preventive measures such as pasture rotation, mixed grazing, and bioactive feedstuffs?
• When is the right timing for pasture changes and monitoring in the management of gastrointestinal worms in sheep and goats?
• What should I keep in mind when it comes to diagnostics and selecting animals for treatment?
• Which other parasites occur, and how should I deal with them?
• Which dewormers are available, and how can I use them correctly and safely?

On www.weide-parasiten.de you will find knowledge and practical guidance on pasture parasite management. Decision-support tools help you to plan suitable measures, reduce resistance and environmental risks, and limit deworming to a necessary level – while maintaining health and performance of your animals.

• Website Weide-Parasiten.de

How do farmers and veterinarians perceive the economic value and feasibility of sustainable worm control strategies on their farms.

The survey revealed that the most widely recognized SWC method was the sustainable use of anthelmintics, with agreement from 87% of veterinarians and 83% of farmers. Grazing management followed closely, supported by 84% of veterinarians and 80% of farmers. Selective breeding was also highly regarded, with 82% of veterinarians and 78% of farmers in agreement. Bioactive feed supplements received moderate support, with 68% of veterinarians and 62% of farmers considering them beneficial. The use of multispecies and bioactive pastures was seen as beneficial by 72% of veterinarians and 68% of farmers. In contrast, vaccination was the least supported strategy, with only 64% of veterinarians and 58% of farmers considering it economically beneficial.

A wide update of the key SWC mentioned in the questionnaire will preserve the long-term effectiveness of anthelmintics, reduce anthelmintic residual in the environment and improve farm profitability. However, many farmers who selected “I don’t know,” which indicates a potential knowledge gap regarding certain SWC methods. Therefore, clearer communication of cost-benefit analyses should also be enhanced across stakeholders.

• The third SPARC press release is ready!
• Online SPARC EU Webinar Video

A more sustainable approach involves targeted whole-flock treatments only when the helminth burden exceeds a threshold (e.g., >400 eggs per gram of feces - EPG) and/or with evidence of clinical signs or reduced production performance.

Targeted treatment is a sustainable way of treating animals against helminths, reducing the risk of anthelmintic resistance and ensuring a more efficient herd.

Targeted treatments are recommended at specific moments: Peripartum period or onset of lactation Faecal Egg Count results (>400 EPG) Low productions and/or worsening flock health status Faecal analysis (e.g., Mini-FLOTAC technique) allows for accurate monitoring of worm burden. To ensure a representative sampling, irrespective of the total number of animals present on the farm, 20 samples must be taken: 15 from adult animals and 5 from younger animals.

• Podcast - Quando trattare il tuo gregge contro gli elminti?

Liver fluke infections are a major issue for the health and welfare of sheep and cattle.  One of the challenges is understanding when and where the threat will occur as liver fluke risk changes from year to year, from farm to farm, and even from field to field.

Building up a picture of the potential risk is really important to determine treatment product choice and timing - the detection (and treatment) options vary according to the level of maturity of the liver fluke present.

The presence of liver fluke can be monitored in a number of ways:- 

• New penside lateral flow device 
• Blood antibody ELISA test 
• Coproantigen ELISA test 
• Faecal fluke egg counts  
• Post mortem

In addition to testing, keeping records of areas on the farm most likely to present a risk of liver fluke can be a very useful tool. 
It is vital to monitor the situation annually taking in to account previous clinical history, geography and physical attributes of the surrounding land and weather patterns, using fluke forecasts where possible.

Continued monitoring can help determine the need for any further treatments.  A decision support tool has been developed in conjunction with SCOPS and COWs to highlight when and where different tools may be useful.

Incorrect timing of products can mean that they fail to clear the infections, leading to health and welfare issues. Overuse of flukicides speeds up the development of anthelmintic resistance, can pose a risk to the environment and wastes time and money.

The decision support tool will help vets and farmers make better treatment decisions, saving time and money.

• Liver fluke: A guide to test-based control poster
• Podcasts on liver fluke
• Podcasts on liver fluke

The objective is to detect the possible presence of anthelmintic resistance in a sheep/goat farm to any of the anthelmintic drugs on the market by the Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT).​ The FECRT is based on the collection of faecal samples before and after administration of an anthelmintic treatment to measure the Faecal Egg Count (FEC).​

Faecal sample collection*​

Collect individual rectal faecal samples (minimum 5 g, preferably 10 g) from a minimum number of 10 animals per group.​ For sheep and goats, animals of all ages may be used.​
In order to identify animals with high egg counts 15 (or more) animals can be selected pre-treatment, with post-treatment sampling focused on the 10 animals with the highest egg counts. ​
Flocks should not have received anthelmintic treatments during the past six weeks (extended periods will apply if long-acting formulations have been applied).

Sampling​

The same animals must be sampled pre- and post-treatment depending on the drugs tested:​
▪ levamisole: 7 to 10 days​
▪ benzimidazoles: 10 to 14 days​
▪ ivermectin and other macrocyclic lactones: 14 to 17 days​
▪ moxidectin: 17 to 21 days​
▪ when testing in parallel two or more drugs in same flock: 14 days ​

Samples should best reach the lab at the day of sampling and be cooled to below 10°C during transport.*

FEC and FECRT​

Instructions for the correct determination of the FEC and FECRT are described in the COMBAR guide.​

​Anthelmintic treatment efficacy:

• Reduced​: FECR <95% and lower limit of the 95% Confidence Interval <90%​

• Doubtful​: Either FECR <95% or lower limit of the 95% Confidence Interval <90%​

• Normal​: FECR ≥95% and lower limit of the 95% Confidence Interval ≥90%

The result of the detection of anthelmintic resistance will allow to know with certainty which anthelmintic drug works best. Using an effective drug will not only improve animal health, but also improve production performance in terms of increased milk production or animal growth.​

• COMBAR guide Feacal Egg Count Reduction Test

To avoid unnecessary anthelmintic treatments of first grazing season heifers, treatments can be targeted based on a non-invasive decision support tool. This tool estimates the pasture risk level for gastrointestinal worm infections, based on grazing management and anthelmintic treatments in the previous year.  

Pastures will be given a high (red), medium (orange) or low (green) risk level. Treatment advice is then tailored to the risk level of the pasture, with more intensive treatment in high-risk herds and less intensive or no treatment in herds with a medium or low risk level.

This ‘traffic light’ risk analysis provides farmers with an estimate of the level of pasture contamination with gastrointestinal nematodes at the start of the grazing season. If needed, mitigating measures can be taken, such as adapting grazing management or providing anthelmintic treatments. Generic treatment advice is given based on the assigned risk level and farmers are encouraged to discuss specific treatment options with their veterinarian. This non-invasive decision support tool allows the veterinarian to give tailor-made treatment advice and to get actively involved in worm control on their clients’ farms. 

In practice, the required information for the risk analysis should be obtained during a short conversation (e.g. using a checklist or short questionnaire) prior to the start of the grazing season. Shortly thereafter, generic treatment advice can be given based on the obtained risk level. Specific treatment options can then be discussed with the veterinarian. 

Application of the ‘traffic light’ decision support tool should optimise anthelmintic treatments, while maintaining animal productivity and adequate worm control. In the longer term, a more rational use of anthelmintics should slow down the development of anthelmintic resistance and reduce environmental contamination with drug residues. 

Sustainable control of digestive parasites must be based on a comprehensive, educational and farm-specific approach, focusing on three areas : limiting infestations, improving the resilience of ruminants and rational management of treatments. ​

The use and dissemination of good practice guides, decision-making tool for deciding whether or not to treat, tools for forecasting parasite infestation over the year and fast and cheap pen side tests for diagnosis would facilitate the roll-out of sustainable management. ​

The use of sustainable practices would limit the technical and economic losses associated with parasites and avoid therapeutic deadlocks, which can lead to the cessation of grazing or even livestock farming.

A confirmed increase in antiparasitic resistance in all ruminant sectors across Europe​

Given the confirmed and worrying rise in resistance to anthelminthics in all ruminant sectors across Europe, the implementation of sustainable gastrointestinal parasite management is becoming essential. In order to facilitate the adoption of sustainable practices, we have to understand existing practices, expectations and needs, as well as barriers and levels of actions for change. This is why SPARC partners conducted more than 300 field surveys on this topic in 2024.​

Collection of practices and barriers to changes in practices​

Treatment remains the most widely used practice, but pasture management, the use of plant-based solutions and parasite analysis are gaining ground. The adoption of sustainable practices remains fragmented due to multiple technical, economic and social barriers. Habits, lack of time, complexity and diversity of messages circulating in the field, fear of economic losses, lack of knowledge and the need for scientific evidence are the main obstacles.

This approach integrates sustainable practices with targeted interventions to ensure the health and productivity of small ruminants in semi-arid environments. 

Challenges: 
    * 4–6 months without any rainfall, drought, and high temperatures 
    * animals graze in pastures all year round, only rarely spend time within barn (i.e., open-air light constructions).
Therefore, animals are exposed to worms however the parasitic burden varies depending on the season and the climatic conditions.

Opportunities: 
    * often local breeds are used since animals are adapted to hot/dry conditions. Those animals usually are quite resilient to worm infections. 
    * animals’ grazing environment comprise a high abundance of shrubs and trees rich in bioactive secondary metabolites 
    * areas where there is a high availability of bioactive feed material derived from agro-industrial by-products

The plan proposes that the farmer should be aware of the intensity of worm infection in his farm by performing regular FEC in selected time periods. This knowledge will support his decision on how he can better utilize the incorporation of the bioactive feed to control worm control and if the use of classic anthelmintics is necessary.

Bioactive feed can be incorporate in the small ruminants’ ration either as grazing material (directing animals to specific pastures) or as supplementary feed in conserved form (pellets) offered in the barn. The exploitation of grasslands and/or agro-industrial waste to develop feed pellets would not raise more costs since the material are locally available and in low cost. 
This plans supports circular economy and decreases imported feed dependency. 

• Podcast: Worm Management Plan for extensive grazing-based sheep/goat dairy farm…

Worm infections are a significant cause of disease and represent one of the ​​​​most substantial production-limiting factors in ruminants. ​​To assess the possible presence of worms in your farm, you and/or your vet can perform a diagnosis by collecting your animals faeces and sending them for parasitological analysis to a laboratory.   

To collect the animal faeces, ​​​​specific protocols have been developed by Kaplan, 2023. Without the correct application of these protocols, the diagnosis may be distorted and the result may be incorrect. 

​​​​​But Diagnosis is easy! By following the developed protocols, you can collect the animal faeces yourself in an inexpensive way. You can then discuss the analysis results with your veterinarian to define an adequate treatment for your animals if necessary. Diagnosis is the best way to treat animals correctly; sample collection is the basis for a good diagnosis.  

• Best practise for faecal sampling in sheep and cattle

Roundworm control in cattle are heavily reliant on the use of macrocyclic lactones. Recent reports of the advancement of resistance to drugs in the key cattle parasite Ostertagia ostertagi highlight the future issues facing the industry.  

As such, understanding of roundworms and the risk posed to cattle productivity is beginning to gain traction within the cattle industry.  Despite this forecasted demand, resources for cattle producers are limited and the lack of decision support may prevent uptake of faecal egg counting. The FEC Check tool provides support for the cattle industry to understand how, when and why to use faecal egg counts to control roundworms in cattle sustainably.   

Guides for the practical meaning of results are available (www.cattleparasites.org.uk/) but extracting information applicable to individual situations can be challenging. The Visual representation of the clinical implication of test results will simplify decision-making and combat variation amongst providers.  

FEC Check is a farmer-facing, free, online tool which helps with the interpretation of faecal egg count (FEC) results for roundworms.  The tool provides information and resources to aid users in conducting FECs and in the interpretation of results through a graphical interface that displays the clinical meaning of FEC results visually.  The app assists stakeholders with decision-making on if/when anthelmintic treatment is required and if it was effective. Targeted treatments can reduce chemical usage and slow the development of anthelmintic resistance whilst providing additional environmental and economic benefits. Egg counts are simple to perform, but translating the results into management decisions can be challenging and finding support information within industry resources is time-consuming.

Frequent testing can also build a picture of how wormy specific fields are, informing grazing management strategies, potentially reducing reliance on wormers in the longer term. 

• Test don’t guess fact sheet
• Test don’t guess animation

A faecal egg count is a snapshot of the roundworm infection in sheep and is a workhorse allowing users to monitor the need for treatment/target wormer use (diagnostic test), as well as seeing if a treatment has worked. Gathering this information can ensure you are targeting wormer use…treating the right animals at the right time with an effective product (potentially saving you time, labour and money). 

FEC is an accessible tool but despite it’s simplicity, interpretation of results can be difficult due to inherent variation.  Farmers often receive results without context or interpretation due to the lack of standardised reporting frameworks. Guides for the practical meaning of results are available (www.scops.org.uk/) but extracting information applicable to individual situations can be challenging. The Visual representation of the clinical implication of test results will simplify decision-making and combat variation amongst providers.  

FEC Check is a farmer-facing, free, online tool which helps with the interpretation of faecal egg count (FEC) results for roundworms.  

The web tool provides information and resources to aid users in conducting FECs and in the interpretation of results through a graphical interface that displays the clinical meaning of FEC results visually.  The app assists stakeholders with decision-making on if/when anthelmintic treatment is required and if it was effective. Targeted treatments can reduce chemical usage and slow the development of anthelmintic resistance whilst providing additional environmental and economic benefits. Egg counts are simple to perform, but translating the results into management decisions can be challenging and finding support information within industry resources is time-consuming.   

Frequent testing can also build a picture of how wormy specific fields are, informing grazing management strategies, potentially reducing reliance on wormers in the longer term. 

• FEC Check sheep web resource
• Test don’t guess fact sheet
• Test don’t guess animation

Transferring knowledge from research to practitioners can be challenging. Demonstrations and network meetings are great tools to bridge this gap. Here, we share some key tips and tricks to organize a successful meeting and facilitate knowledge-exchange on sustainable worm control (SWC) practices.  

Connect the topic to themes that matter to the audience - From our work in the SPARC project, we learned that interest in worm control can be low in some sectors. To spark interest, we found it helpful to link SWC meetings to other topics perceived as more interesting, e.g. grassland production, other infectious diseases, or antimicrobial resistance.  

Tailor invitations to boost attendance - How participants are invited can also influence attendance. We found that farmers, for example, are more likely to come if the invitation comes from someone they know and trust. Word of mouth and clear, targeted communication can make a big difference in boosting the attendance rate. 

Discuss the timing with the audience - Scheduling matters and can vary depending on the group that is addressed. As such, it’s important to consult the audience about the best time for the meeting. If in-person meetings are challenging, organizing online sessions can also be considered. Our experience shows that online meetings often attract more participants, but for hands-on learning, face-to-face meetings are generally more effective. 

Encourage discussion alongside presentations - To enhance learning, opportunities for interaction beyond lectures should be created. This can be informal, such as including a light lunch or extended coffee breaks, or more structured, such as moderated group discussions, farm visits, or demonstrations. Having a moderator during these sessions is helpful to ensure all participants, including quieter ones, feel comfortable contributing and asking questions. 

To improve the return-on-investment of organizing meetings or demonstrations, it is important to be well-prepared!

Pasture rotation, or rotational grazing, is a practical livestock management strategy where sheep and goats are systematically moved through a series of subdivided paddocks, allowing grazed areas time to rest and recover. This approach improves pasture productivity, forage utilization, and persistence by preventing overgrazing and promoting even grazing patterns. In practice, producers use temporary or permanent fencing to create multiple paddocks, moving animals every few weeks based on forage availability and growth rates. Water access is managed through fixed or portable systems to support frequent movement. 

A key benefit of pasture rotation is the reduction of internal parasite burdens. By rotating sheep and goats to fresh paddocks before parasite eggs are deposited in manure and hatch and develop into infective larvae (typically within 4–5 days), the risk of animals ingesting parasites is minimised. Rest periods between grazing allow time for parasite larvae to die off, further reducing infection pressure. This system also encourages healthier animals, more resilient pastures, and can reduce reliance on chemical dewormers. 

Overall, pasture rotation in sheep and goats is a cost-effective, sustainable practice that enhances animal health, optimizes forage use, and supports long-term pasture and flock productivity. 

Treating animals only targets the parasites that are causing performance loss at that moment, but many parasites out on pasture. Reducing exposure of naïve livestock to these parasites can help reduce disease and the need for intervention, saving money, improving performance and prolonging the effectiveness of the wormer remedies.   

Traffic light grazing involves mapping pastures on your farm in terms of risk: red/amber/green for high/med/low. This is a self-assessed map that can be done using a white board, mental note or software apps.  

Using good stockmanship, lab results, performance monitoring and vet advice, we estimate the level of contamination and how this will affect the risk for the next grazing in rotation. If a high volume of eggs is deposited on pasture, we mark the pasture as being red.   

First season grazing animals are naïve and suffer the effects of parasites more easily. Early in the season, turning these younger animals out to low risk, green pasture is preferred. As they graze they shed eggs and the pasture should be marked amber and they should not return to these pastures in the first half of the season.   

If weather is good, animals are not under stress and are hitting their expected performance, then we can introduce them to amber pastures to allow some immunity to develop. 

Consider these actions to reduce the pasture risk to a lower level:  

• Reseeding: Helps bury infective stage larvae and eggs into the soil. 
• Mechanical hoovering: Making silage/hay removes surface larvae from pasture.
• Animal hoovering: Alternating between species can reduce contamination.
• Spelling Pasture: Time, dehydration, frost, and solar radiation reduce the overall viable eggs and infective stage larvae on pasture. 

When treating animals, you are only targeting the parasites that are causing performance loss at that moment in time, but there are many parasites out on pasture. Reducing exposure of naïve livestock to these parasites can help reduce disease and the need for intervention, saving money, improving performance and prolonging the effectiveness of the wormer remedies.  

Traffic light grazing involves mapping pastures on your farm in terms of risk. This is a self-assessed map that can be done using a white board, a mental note or there are even some software apps that could work. 

Younger, first season grazing animals are fairly naïve and they suffer the effects of parasites more easily, also shedding a larger number of eggs in their dung. In the start of the season, turning these younger animals out to low risk, green pasture is the preferred option. As they graze, the pasture should be marked amber and the young stock should not return to these pastures in the first half of the season.  

Using a combination of good stockmanship, laboratory results, performance monitoring and veterinary advice, we can make a call on the level of contamination and how this will affect the risk for the next grazing in rotation. If we conclude that we have a high volume of eggs being deposited out on pasture, we mark the pasture as being red.  

As animals are excellent at building their own immunity to many parasites, they need to gain some exposure. If weather conditions are good, animals are not under stress and are hitting their expected performance, then we can introduce them to amber pastures. 

The Wormenwijzer (Worms Guide) is an online tool that provides advice on responsible management of gastrointestinal worms in sheep and helps minimizeand prevent disease and growth loss due togastrointestinal worms. ​

For each flock of ewes or lambs grazing together, youcan get tailored advice for each moment byanswering a series of questions about grazing andtreatment history. Based on the answers, advicefollows with practical measures to be implemented. ​

The tool also provides advice when bringing in breedingrams, breeding ewes and lambs or introducinganimals from third parties.​

The Worms Guide provides detailed information andguidance on dosing, grazing management, safe land,manure testing and results, worm species and theirpathologies.​

The Worms Guide is part of the Wiki Wijs met Wormen,which also includes instructional videos, farmprotocols and background information.​

The Worms Guide was recently updated by WageningenUniversity & Research and the Faculty of VeterinaryMedicine at Utrecht University in cooperation withLTO. The tool aims to minimize the use of syntheticdeworming agents while preserving growth, animalhealth and animal welfare.

• Wormenwijzer Schapenhouderij

Farmers and vets often face challenges in determining when worm control is truly necessary. Some treat their herd regularly despite low infection levels, while others delay treatment even with high parasite burdens. An efficient worm control plan at the farm level requires ongoing consultation with a professional who specializes in parasite epidemiology and has in-depth knowledge of the local farm conditions. This level of expertise and customization demands significant time and resources.

Over the past decade, research has shown the benefits of targeted treatment approaches based on diagnostic information to improve economic performance while minimizing the need to use wormers. Wormwize® translates recent research into a user-friendly online tool, combining diagnostic results with farm management data to generate tailored worm control reports specific to each farm. 

After uploading the required information, end users will be able to download a report including three sections: (i) General risk score, (ii) Potential annual costs due to worm infection (€) and (iii) Control options. Specific costs of the report can be found at: https://wormwize.eu/pricing/ 

• Wormwize homepage
• How does Wormwize work?