No evidence to suggest liver fluke occurs more often on ‘wet’ farms

Liver fluke infections are no more likely to occur on “wet” farms than they are on “dry” farms, according to Teagasc Moorepark research specialist Riona Sayers.

A recent study by Teagasc Moorepark examined 29 farms for fluke using bulk milk analysis. Each farm was characterised as “wet” or “dry” in terms of liver fluke levels, with no evidence to support the general presumption that liver fluke would occur more frequently on boggier farms.

Instead, the absence of a fluke control programme on any farm, wet or dry, was far more likely to lead to unacceptable levels of fluke.