Sheep farmers invited to visit fluke testing trial farms in Scotland
26th July 2022
DAERA is offering sheep farmers the opportunity to travel to the Isle of Islay, Scotland, to learn about trial work being carried out on farms, relating to fluke detection and targeted treatments.
Trial farms are carrying out targeted testing each autumn, including blood testing first grazing youngstock in the flock to identify when the fluke challenge begins on each trial farm. This is followed by copro-antigen testing and fluke egg detection to work out when treatments are required.
The trial has also used efficacy checks to monitor for triclabendazole resistance on farms.
Faecal egg counting (FEC) has become more popular as routine husbandry in NI sheep flocks in recent years, with test results used mainly to determine the requirement for worm and fluke treatments.
The trial has taken this practise to a more in-depth level which allows farmers to identify when the fluke challenge begins on farm each year, using youngstock which have never been exposed to fluke previously in their lives, potentially delaying the need for fluke dosing in the earlier autumn months and allowing for greater efficiency in the autumn flock management.
The subsequent copro-antigen and fluke detection tests allow farmers to identify the point at which the sheep flock has ingested fluke and the cycle has begun and allows for targeted treatment, all of which lends itself to responsible use of anthelmintics and helps to reduce the increasing problem of resistance.
The tour will include visits to four sheep farms over two days. As plane and road travel would be very time consuming, organisers propose that participants travel by boat from Ballycastle to Port Ellen.
The first day will be spent with two of the Islay trials farms – Cornabus Farm and an RSPB upland farm. The second day will be spent with two large scale sheep flocks, including a visit to the Islay Estate farm before returning home to Ballycastle that evening. A feedback and discussion session will take place over dinner on the first evening.
The study tour is part of the Farm Innovation Visits Scheme which is being delivered by DAERA’s College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). The group will leave from Ballycastle on the morning of 6th September and return on the evening of 7th September 2022. The tour will be led by CAFRE Beef & Sheep Advisers.
Applications are invited from one member or employee of a farm business that has 150 breeding ewes or more, is over 18 years old on the application closing date and not in full-time education.
Ten places are available on this first trip and these will be allocated with preference given to those who meet the flock size criteria and financial benchmark. Should there be sufficient interest subsequent trips may take place in 2023.
All applicants must identify a group of farmers to share their findings with upon their return.
The Farm Innovation Visit Scheme will cover the costs associated with setting up the visit, accommodation, travel outside of Northern Ireland and meals when in Great Britain. Participants will be expected to meet any additional costs, including farm relief and travel insurance.
Sheep farmers who are interested in participating in this study tour can find out more details and complete an online application from the CAFRE website
Online applications close on Friday 5th August 2022 at 4.00 pm.
