In part two of our focus on the work of COWS, RUMA hears from Mark Jelley who was the original farmer on the group when it was first established. Mark is a suckler beef farmer from Northamptonshire. The farm also produces cereals and pulses for local markets. Mark is Chair of the RUMA Cattle Antibiotic Guardian Group (CAGG), a farmer representative on the Veterinary Products Committee at the VMD and sits on the RUMA Targets Task Force (TTF).

RUMA: How did you get involved in COWS and what did those early days of the group look like and what was your input?

Mark: I joined COWS to help with the communications challenge of turning scientific and technical language into something easily accessible to farmers. COWS already had very able academic and veterinary experts within the group, but they had realised the value of having a farmer in the room who was prepared to say “I don’t understand” as guidance was being written. It’s also very useful for group members who aren’t in day-to-day contact with farming to be able to directly ask questions of a farmer. If your day job is teaching students about best practice and strategies to avoid resistance, it’s useful to have first-hand explanations about what influences farmers to make product choices which might be at odds with the theory.

RUMA: Why does the work of COWS matter to farmers?

Mark: COWS provides a very valuable source of independent guidance on both product selection and peer-reviewed advice. No farmer wants to encounter resistance to active ingredients, and responsible use needs reputable independent evidence to support that. It’s important to be guided by robust evidence and advice.

A lot of time has been spent on making the resources useful and accessible to stakeholders including vets, RAMAs/SQPs, and farmers. Influencing decision making by all those involved in parasite management needs clear language to guide and support choices; the decision to monitor faecal egg counts (FECs) instead of treating as routine for example, can be a big step for a producer who is ultimately trying to ensure the health and welfare of their stock – so everyone involved needs to be confident in their understanding of the process.

RUMA: What has the work of COWS meant to you as a farmer?

Mark: I have used the product guide, which is currently being updated, on numerous occasions; it has been the easiest way to understand both withdrawal periods on competitor products and the timing requirements for fluke treatments.

I know that my vets use the COWS website as well – the resources provide the detail they need to help support the responsible use of anthelmintics, but they are also accessible enough for me to understand too.

RUMA: How have you put into practice the guidance and advice from COWS and what has been the impact?

Mark: We’ve changed our wormer policy to better understand if we need to treat in the first instance, but also to reduce reliance on pour-on products; we’ve understood the convenience they offer could lead to resistance issues in the longer term if we don’t use them responsibly, and that’s something that all farmers can take onboard.

We’ve also learned more about managing liver fluke and as a result, this has led to more targeted treatment and reduced our medicine use considerably which is a win: win.

RUMA: What would you say to other farmers to encourage their use of the COWS resources?

Mark: I’d encourage farmers to have a good look at the website and the guidance on there. The information available is very comprehensive and is a great way to learn more about the various parasites that can cost us as farmers a significant amount of money.

There is information on gut and lungworms, liver and rumen fluke, lice, mites, and effective control of parasites. The guidance covers advice on prevention, administering treatments effectively, plus responsible disposal guidelines.

Treating unnecessarily is a waste of money, but equally, just stopping treating without understanding the risks or using diagnostic tools such as FECs, can severely impact animal health and welfare too.

Vets and RAMAs/SQPs can provide valuable advice, but nothing beats a farmer understanding the problem they are facing in the first place and then working in collaboration with their vet and RAMA/SQP to put in place the best solutions to achieve the best possible outcomes.

COWS and SCOPS (Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep – the sheep equivalent of COWS) provide the ruminant sector and all who work within it (vets, farmers, students, RAMAs/SQPs), with a comprehensive set of free resources which are completely independent and developed by some of the leading experts in the UK.

To learn more about the work of COWS visit: Promoting Sustainable Control of Cattle Parasites – COWS – Promoting Sustainable Control of Cattle Parasites