Merial study demonstrates UK impact of gutworm

Merial Animal Health has published a new industry study that demonstrates the multimillion-pound annual impact of gutworm on UK dairy producers.

Figures collated by the company from more than 650 herds over a three-year period have revealed that 91 percent have experienced a high level of problems with gutworm, thus reducing milk yields by 2.2 litres per day.

Over the three-year period, this would mean overall losses to businesses of as much as 827 million pounds, figures which have prompted Merial to highlight the benefits of its MOO testing services.

These tests measure antibodies in the bulk milk and can help indicate the level of challenge from worms in cows, even if no clinical symptoms are being displayed.

Merial's veterinary adviser Fiona MacGillivray said: "Test results can also help predict whether the productivity of the herd could be improved following treatment with the wormer Eprinex, which removes gutworm infections."

Eprinex is a wormer product from Merial that offers no milk withdrawal period, making it an advantageous means of combating gutworm and lungworms.