Vet group calls on McConalogue to address antiparasitic resistance in Irish livestock

Antiparasitic resistance among livestock must be addressed with a science-based approach. 

That's according to Veterinary Ireland (VI), which is calling on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, to address the issue. 

According to VI, the ability to farm livestock on grazing systems is only possible where parasitic disease - a serious public health and agri-food industry issue - can be managed effectively. 

A study by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in 2016 reportedly found that 56% of worming interventions in sheep were not effective, and in 2017 found extremely high levels of resistance to all groups of wormers in cattle. 

According to the Chair of the Veterinary Ireland Medicines Working Group, Conor Geraghty MVB Cert DHH, the right product must be given "to the right animals at the right time" in order to address the resistance problem. 

He also stated that refugia (the proportion of the parasitic population unexposed to treatment) should be maintained through selective, targeted treatments and that parasite control becomes a planned farm-specific procedure. 

He said, "The gateway to this outcome is through proper, scientific, farm-specific advice from the farmers’ vet where a Client-Patient-Practice-Relationship (CCPR) is in existence. This advice must be ongoing and monitored, take account of farm specific issues such as epidemiology, pharmacology, the clinical picture, stocking densities, buying policy and local factors." 

According to Geraghty, proper tailored advice from the farmers' own veterinary practitioner will result in farmers using less antiparasitic veterinary medicines, resulting in savings to farmers and improved farm productivity and profit while addressing resistance. 

Chair of the Veterinary Ireland Food Animal Interest Group, Kate O'Dwyer, said, "These medicines are precious resources to be used prudently for the preservation of human, animal and environmental health and should not be treated as input
commodities. 

"We need to follow European and international best practice because failing to do so could risk Ireland’s reputation as a food producing country." 

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, reportedly addressed the Veterinary Ireland AGM and conference on November 25, 2022, where he brought up the worrying development of antiparasitic resistance in Ireland. 

At the AGM the Minister stated: “This year my Department introduced a TASAH (Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health) programme to specifically focus on parasite control on farms. This programme reinforced the value of veterinary expertise in successfully controlling parasites at farm level. 

"Anthelmintic resistance is a complex problem and as management practices and risk factors vary markedly between farms, there is huge value in tailored veterinary advice.” 

Geraghty said, "It is vital that the Minister continues a science based and internationally credible approach to addressing the issue of anthelmintic resistance. This is to the ultimate benefit of the farming community and also human and animal
health in the One Health context."