On-farm app trial could improve lamb parasite control
The app is being tested across four sheep farms in the South West of England.
An on-farm trial has begun which will assess if an on-farm app could support lamb farmers’ parasite control decisions.
The two-season project will assess whether the SmartWorm app will support farmers in reducing wormer use, tackling anthelmintic resistance and maintaining flock performance.
SmartWorm is a decision-support tool that utilises electronic identification (EID) data to support farmers. This is combined with live lamb performance and on-farm conditions for more precise treatment.
The app seeks to reduce blanket treatment by helping farmers to identify the lambs which actually require worming.
The trial is being delivered across four commercial sheep farms in the South West of England. Each farm had different flock sizes and production systems, ranging from 200 to 2,500 ewes.
The enrolled lambs will be weighed every three to four weeks using an EID-enabled weighing system. The app then uses this data, alongside weather information, grazing quality and farmer observations, to identify the lambs which needed treatment.
As part of the project, researchers from the Moredun Institute will also provide veterinary oversight, routine worm egg counting and laboratory support.
The project is being funded by Defra’s farmer-led innovation programme, Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT). The scheme supports practical, on-farm trials to test new ideas and technologies.
It is hoped that the app will reduce unnecessary wormer use without compromising growth or welfare. It may also lead to improved feed efficiency and better overall flock performance.
Emily Gascoigne, a vet and the project lead for Synergy Farm Health, said: “Most progressive sheep farmers are already using worm egg counts to make better group-level treatment decisions. This project asks whether we can take that one step further by making informed decisions at individual animal level.
“The aim isn’t simply to reduce wormer use. It’s about maintaining lamb performance, protecting animal welfare and preserving the effectiveness of wormers for the future. If we can achieve all of those together, that’s a significant step forward for sustainable sheep farming.”
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