A big part of RUMA’s role is to promote a co-ordinated and integrated approach to best practice in the use of medicines in agriculture. As part of that, RUMA is highlighting the work underway across the industry, be that sector specific work or sharing the work of other groups who align with RUMA’s vision.

In our latest ‘responsible medicines use in focus’ campaign, we are shining a spotlight on the work of the Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) group, which is a voluntary initiative that aims to provide the best available, evidence-based information to the beef and dairy cattle industries in relation to the sustainable control of both internal and external parasites.

In this first feature, we share details of the history of COWS, its inception and an overview of its work to date.

COWS is an independent industry-led group that works in the best interests of the UK cattle industry. It recognises anthelmintic resistance is one of the biggest challenges to the future health, welfare and profitability of the cattle industry. If left unchecked, anthelmintic resistance (AR) is one of the biggest challenges to the future health and profitability of the UK cattle industry, which is why industry action is needed on worm and fluke control.

Parasites represent an important threat to optimising performance in both beef and dairy cattle. Feed conversion efficiency, growth rates and fertility will all be affected if cattle are carrying large burdens of internal and external parasites. This is where COWS comes in to improve the information available to farmers, SQPS/RAMAs, vets and advisors about the sustainable control of parasites in suckler and dairy herds.

Since its inception it has developed a range of guidelines and resources to support the cattle sector and has worked hard to promote and champion industry action on worm and fluke control. It also seeks to identify opportunities for coordinated and collaborative industry action. The group also helps identify and plug knowledge gaps.

Dr. Mary Vickers*, a Senior Scientist at AHDB, who was the first official Chair of COWS says: “The first COWS technical manual was published in May 2010 which followed work by a core steering group of stakeholders. It all came about as a result of increasing numbers of treatment failures in anthelmintics being reported and an observational study which indicated those failures were possibly due to underdosing of the products; this raised concerns that there might be an issue.

“An industry consultation followed, as recommended by the steering group, which was incredibly constructive and led to an update of the manual to put more focus on practical implementation and advice such as focusing on better understanding of worm lifecycles in grazing management to support farmers and vets. This was a real step change which saw us move from research to communicating practical advice. The levy bodies also got involved to help disseminate the information. We were very aware of the resistance issues that were facing the sheep industry so wanted to take positive action with cattle sooner rather than later.

“The manual was a key resource for farmers, SQPS/RAMAs and vets and helped support everyone to make better decisions. We worked with a lot of partners such as Moredun, APHA, the Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD) and independent experts.

“The early days of COWS were very much about bringing together the wise heads, key stakeholders, researchers and academics that were looking into the mechanics of ensuring that we understood how to best control cattle parasites without sole reliance on anthelmintics and ectoparasiticides. Also making decisions about when those products are required and making sure they are used properly to avoid resistance building up. Practical messages emphasising the advice to ‘use as much as necessary but as little as possible’, were communicated with the help of real case studies to demonstrate how that could be implemented on farm.

“After the manual was created COWS developed into a more defined organisation especially as we realised there was a need for more knowledge transfer effort; we needed to work better at presenting the messages in a more applied way. We created an identity for COWS with a logo, employed a communications consultant and then in time, a website to house our resources.

“In the proceeding years, resources were created on anthelmintic resistance including vet CPD training in 2015, as well as work engaging SQPs/RAMAs who play a key role in animal medicines advice to farmers. We adopted a very proactive and engaging approach with all key stakeholders.”

Bringing together expertise from across the industry, COWS has recently refined its messages to encourage the responsible use of wormers, which ensures highest animal welfare whilst also caring for any effects they may have on the environment. In summary, this framework comprises:

• Encouraging cattle farmers to work out a worming strategy for different groups of animals with their vet or SQP/RAMA – ideally as part of the Herd Health Plan
• Use wormers only when necessary – testing before treatment to make sure they are really needed
• Consider the effects on the environment of any anthelmintic given
• Follow the COWS guidelines for anthelmintic use – follow the five R’s – the Right product, Right animal, Right time, Right dose rate and administered in the Right way
• Test the efficacy of a wormer on the farm to check whether resistant worms are present
• Quarantine imported animals to avoid introducing resistant strains

Over the years COWS has developed a significant set of resources which will be the focus of a future article. These resources cover gut and lung worms, liver and rumen fluke, lice, mites and insect pests and effective control of parasites.

*With thanks to Dr. Mary Vickers, the first Chair of COWS for her input into this feature.