Farmers advised to optimise timing of Worming Treatment Check
Eligible livestock farmers in England can apply for Defra funding for a veterinary-led health and welfare review and a Worming Treatment Check.
Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group is advising livestock farmers to make the most of Defra Animal Health & Welfare Pathway funding by undertaking a well-timed Worming Treatment Check. The Worming Treatment Check is designed specifically to determine the effectiveness of an anthelmintic treatment on a farm.
Eligible livestock farmers in England are currently able to apply for £436 of Defra funding for a veterinary-led health and welfare review and a Worming Treatment Check. The Worming Treatment Check must be carried out within six months of registering for the funding.
To ensure the optimal timing of the Worming Treatment Check, farmers are advised to do a faecal egg count (FEC) beforehand.
Lesley Stubbings, SCOPS independent sheep consultant said: “It is very important the Worming Treatment Check is carried out at an appropriate time, for example in June/July when there are lambs at pasture with a FEC that indicates they require treatment. A minimum FEC of 250 eggs per gram is needed for the test to be worthwhile, so discuss with your vet or adviser doing some monitoring ahead of the using the check.”
Farmers participating in the Worming Treatment Check will receive a sampling kit, full instructions and pre-paid postage to return the samples to the laboratory. The kit includes two FECs; one to be taken at the time of treatment to measure the number of adult roundworms present in the lambs, the second to be taken at a set interval after treatment (seven or 14 days). The difference determines the effectiveness of the treatment.
Kevin Harrison, a sheep farmer on the Gloucestershire/Somerset border and SCOPS steering group chair, said: “I know from experience that it’s not as simple as thinking one test will give you a definite answer on anthelmintic resistance. It takes a series of these tests over different years and seasons to build a complete picture of the efficacy of wormers on a farm – so use this opportunity as a starting point and build on it. It is never too late to start when it comes to slowing the development of resistance, and using a fully effective treatment when lambs do need worming will pay dividends in terms of lamb performance.”
Advice on timings, product-choice, dose rates and techniques, and ongoing monitoring can be found on the SCOPS website.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is inviting applications from veterinary students to attend a one-week extramural studies (EMS) placement in July 2026.
