The survey of 360 sheep farmers, released at this year’s NSA Sheep Event, found 41% had seen a change in the timing of parasite challenges, while 34% reported issues they were not seeing, or not recognising, five years ago. Haemonchus emerged as a particular concern. Encouragingly, 85% of respondents said they had changed their parasite management approach in recent years, with farmers increasingly using tools including faecal egg counts, vet advice and strategic use of group 4 and 5 wormers to support treatment decisions. Exmoor sheep farmers Richard and Laura Stanbury also share how regular FEC testing, weighing and performance monitoring have helped them move away from blanket worming and towards more targeted treatments. Please find the full release below. Please find article attached and photos – please respect copyright. The panel from left to right: Debbie Whitaker (SQP at Moley Valley), Laura and Richard Stanbury (Weston Farm), Carolyn Hogan (vet and Elanco technical consultant), Matt Blyth and Nerys White (sheep consultants). Any queries, please let us know. Best regards,
Bella
PRESS RELEASE: 07/08/26
Survey shows sheep farmers are adapting as parasite risks shift
A survey of 360 sheep farmers has revealed that 41% are seeing a change in the timing of parasite challenges, and the majority are changing their approach as a result. The results of the Elanco Sheep Parasite survey were released at this year’s NSA Sheep Event in Malvern on 28 July. The survey, which ran between March and April this year, explored the prevalence of key parasite threats, such as blowfly strike, worms, fluke, ticks and sheep scab – as well as how farmers are managing them. Over a quarter (26%) of farmers said they had seen a change in the level of parasite risk.
Meanwhile, around a third (34%) reported sheep parasite challenges that they were not seeing, or not recognising, five years ago, with Haemonchus standing out as the clearest emerging concern.
Most of those who responded (85%) said they had changed their approach to managing parasites in recent years.
While visual signs remain the most widely used indicator for determining the worm control programme (76%), many farmers are using this in combination with other approaches, with 59% also regularly carrying out faecal egg counts (FECs) and 33% seeking vet advice.
Other key tools used to make these decisions included previous treatment timings (29%) – while only a fifth currently used regular weighing to help inform worm treatments.
Over half of the farmers who responded also said they are using group 4 and 5 wormers for quarantine treatments for new and returning sheep (66%), and 45% use them for a mid-season break dose in lambs.
“The findings show farmers are seeing changes in both timing and the nature of risks, and many are adapting their approach as a result,” says Elanco ruminant technical consultant Matt Colston.
“Using tools such as FECs and weighing can help farmers make more informed treatment decisions, protect flock performance and preserve the effectiveness of available treatments.”
He adds: “It’s encouraging to see a good proportion of farmers are now strategically using group 4 or 5 wormers.
“All of these elements in combination are supporting good worm control, keeping worm burdens in the green zone, while preserving the efficacy of available treatments.”
The survey launch was followed by a Q&A session hosted on the Elanco stand, giving farmers the chance to ask questions and gain practical tips.
Exmoor farmers Richard and Laura Stanbury, of Weston Farm, who have been part of a three-year project with Elanco to improve flock performance, said using scanning data, body condition scoring, daily live weight gain monitoring and regular FEC testing have all played a part.
“We’ve made a policy of FEC testing one mob and dropping the samples off at the vet every Wednesday. Now the lambs are weaned, we’re also doing regular daily liveweight gain monitoring to help inform decisions about worm treatments,” Richard said.
“We only treated a small percentage of the lambs last year, as opposed to a blanket treatment.”
Group 4 wormer Zolvix™ is used on the farm as a quarantine drench for bought in sheep, and as a break dose at the end of the season for lambs that require worming.
“We need to use wormers wisely, only when they’re needed to make them last for as long as we can,” Richard concluded.
Source: press release issued by BELLA.