Roundworms are a major cause of production Loss in sheep. These parasites can Lead to overt clinical disease, but in many cases they result in sub-clinical infection and impact on sheep performance.Production losses are associated with reduction in liveweight gain, as well as both the quality and quantity of meat and wool.The cost to UK sheep farmers, in treatment and lost productivity, has been estimated at ￡84m/year.Roundworm control is mainly achieved through therapeutic and prophylactic use of anthelmintic wormers. But the development of resistance by roundworms to anthelmintics used to control them is a growing problem on sheep farms. Recent data shows that on most farms at least one, and more typically two or three, wormer groups fail to have the expected impact on roundworms.This is a threat to sustainable sheep farming.
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