Due to the warm, balmy spring parasitic worms are hatching earlier than usual this year, The Scottish Agricultural College has warned. Worms can cause potentially fatal digestive irritation in young lambs.

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SAC urged sheep farmers to select the appropriate anti worm treatment and investigate any unexplained lamb deaths with the help of vets and the college.

Nematodirus battus worms present a particular problem in the spring, especially after a cold period is followed by warm weather, which can spark a mass hatch onto grass pasture. Some areas may also see a secondary hatch of the worms in wet autumns.

The immature worms can cause sudden death or watery diarrhoea which leaves weakly “unthrifty” lambs. This can leave them susceptible to another parasite, causing Coccidiosis and kidney damage, according to the SAC. N Battus worms are thought to be particularly active this year.

Permanent, heavily stocked, lowground pastures are at particular risk over the next two months. Although the SAC has advised farmers to treat lambs, it urged them to seek advice from their vets, as there is evidence some parasitic worms are developing resistance to certain treatments.

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