Fluke dose

Username John

Hello all,

Must get a fluke dose at the weekend - but I don't have a great handle on what dose is best in terms of immature and mature fluke for this time of year.

Can anyone help / tell me?

Thanks.

greysides

What I see in lamb livers in the factory at the moment is the first sign of adults in the bile ducts but in very few altogether. Much more regular are signs of migration in the substance of the liver and small fluke blocking smaller bile ducts on the periphery of the liver. Even that isn't very common yet.

Trying to make sense of all that bearing in mind the lambs could be from anywhere in Ireland.... I would say that in the areas which have had more rainfall this year, probably traditional fluke hot spots, it's getting to time to consider fluke. Not urgent yet but soon will be affecting thrive.

In medium risk areas, fluke is beginning to show itself but not a problem for a little longer. A good fluke dose would be needed (to kill immatures as that's all that's present yet) and even the financial benefit of that is dubious given the low numbers in the livers.

In dry areas, no fluke showing yet.

That's all just impression though and the best guide would be to follow lambs up the line and ask the vet to give you an impression of what your livers are like.

Basically any one dosing would want to use a dose that covers the immatures as there's so few adults likely to be present a poor adult-only dose would be wasted.

Products containing closantel or triclabendazole are what I'd consider, if dosing.

Username John

Excellent, thanks grey sides! You're a star.

MayoAreMagic

Greysides, fair play.

Rafoxanide is effective from 8 weeks isn't it? So probably wouldn't be useful until late October.

I think it would be well worth fleshing this topic out a bit more to include all active ingredients and when in the year they are useful, and making the thread a sticky at the top of the forum.

greysides

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

Rafoxanide is effective from 8 weeks isn't it? So probably wouldn't be useful until late October.

Something like that. I usually think 6 weeks but it may depend at what % efficiency you consider it 'works'.