Worm risk-assessment tool launched for horse owners
The assessment looks at topics such as dung removal.
A free online tool has been launched to help horse owners assess the risk that their horse might have worms.
The risk calculator, ‘What’s Your Worm Risk’, is designed to help horse owners and wormer prescribers to make decisions on parasite control.
With wormer resistance becoming a significant issue due to overuse, guidelines now recommend only using wormers in a targeted way. Risk assessments can help with pasture management to reduce the likelihood of worm infection and support the use of monitoring through faecal worm egg counts and other tests.
The assessment tool, created by Austin Davis Biologics, looks at topics including stocking density, grazing with other animal species, dung removal, and diagnostic testing.
Jacqui Matthews, director of veterinary science at Austin Davis Biologics, said: “‘What’s Your Worm Risk’ calculates the likely level of risk based on widely accepted principles regarding equine worm infections and, depending on horse-specific input, will classify the risk of worm infection of an individual horse as low, moderate or high.”
Corrine Austin, managing director of Austin Davis Biologics, added, “‘What’s Your Worm Risk’ is a much-needed tool to support owners in engaging with their prescribers when considering wormer use and how to apply best practice parasite control.
“A component of the assessment’s output is dedicated to highlighting non-chemical and test-led approaches that will support sustainable parasite control as recommended in official guidelines.”
The risk calculator can be accessed here.
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Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
