Producers should continue to watch out for liver fluke going into the New Year, a recent report from NADIS has said.

High levels of liver fluke disease are present in all of Scotland, Wales and western England and while there isn’t sufficient data available, climate data suggests Northern Ireland is also at risk.

Aside from these keys areas, fluke disease is forecast to be a significant risk across most of the rest of the UK although East Anglia looks to be at less risk. Threats to livestock will be high where areas of land have remained wet for long periods of time and trying to avoid grazing these areas will reduce disease risk somewhat.

Continued wet conditions from May to July will also have allowed snail populations to build up in mud which are likely to be infected with fluke. In turn this will have allowed infection to pass from snails onto pasture and become a risk to livestock.

In cattle, a loss of condition and appetite are likely signs as is swelling under the chin (bottle jaw) as the disease advances. Suffering from young, immature fluke is rare therefore delaying dosing can be quite a practical step, the report said. Cattle which are out-wintered will probably need a flukicide treatment in January.

Fluke isn’t the only concern as lungworm may become a problem throughout the month. While it usually falls to low levels in December following a peak in summer, coughing in livestock should be looked into.

Stormy weather experienced in much of the UK at the moment could release larvae from faecal pats leading to high-risk for livestock which is un-dosed or out-wintered.