The strategic use of anthelmintics for worm control for the summer/autumn s
SCOPS, with the backing and support of the Moredun Research Institute, National Sheep Association, and the Sheep Veterinary Society, has renewed their advice to farmers to include the newer group 4 and 5 wormers in their worm control plans now. The message is that for the maximum benefit, it should be every farm every year, both to keep lambs growing to their potential, and to maintain the older cheaper wormer groups as an effective option for as long as possible.
Although most sheep farmers will have heard of Zolvix™, there are still some common questions around how it should be included in the flock worm control strategy:
- Should we not be preserving the active in Zolvix for when we have no other treatment options left? This is what we do with antibiotics, true, but this is not the same for wormers. Frequent use of the same active is one of the main drivers for worms to develop resistance. If we let the older three groups fail, we end up relying entirely on the newer groups. Over-use of these then makes their failure inevitable. Alternatively, integrating Zolvix now, as part of the worm control strategy for the farm will prolong the useful life of the older three groups, maintain effective levels of worm control, and not overuse the new actives.
- In what situations should I be using Zolvix? It should be used on all sheep farms every year at two key points within a worm control plan - for all incoming sheep as part of their quarantine treatment and as a one-off annual break dose treatment for lambs in the latter part of the grazing season.
Quarantine dosing: As well as using the correct actives, it is very important to follow the correct quarantine protocol, to make sure you don’t inadvertently ‘dose and move’. For the quarantine protocol, and the risks of ‘dose and move’, visit the SCOPS website What is a break dose? A break dose is when the product is used in lambs in the latter part of the grazing season to remove the resistant worms left behind by previous treatments - Once I’ve used Zolvix for the break dose in lambs, does that take care of their worm control for the rest of the season? No it doesn’t. Zolvix is not a long-acting product. It is intended to clear the system quickly so as not to have any residual effect on the worm population. This helps to minimise the selection pressure for resistance. Further worming treatments, with other wormer groups, may be necessary depending on pasture contamination levels and weather conditions.
- I currently rotate group 1, 2 and 3 wormers and do not think I have a resistance problem, should I still use Zolvix in my lambs? Chances are you do already have resistant worms on the farm, you just won’t see the problem unless you are testing regularly. But even if testing confirms there are no resistant worms present, including Zolvix in your worming plans now will reduce the risk of resistance developing to the three older wormer groups.
For further information call Elanco Animal Health on +44 (0) 1256 353131 or write to Elanco UK AH Limited, Bartley Way, Bartley Wood Business Park, Hook RG27 9XA.
Zolvix™ 25 mg/ml oral solution for sheep contains monepantel. Legal category: POM-VPS in UK. Information regarding the side effects, precautions, warnings and contra-indications can be found in product packaging and leaflets; further information can also be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics. Advice should be sought from the medicine prescriber. Zolvix, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. Use Medicines Responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible). © 2022 Elanco or its affiliates. PM-UK-22-0393. Date of Preparation: June 2022- 1st July 2022
