THE wet and warm start to August has provided “near perfect” conditions for fluke and worms, according to the latest National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS) parasite forecast.

Wet summers are associated with an increased risk of liver fluke disease during the autumn and winter months.

NADIS said that June rainfall is often a good guide to the likely prevalence of fluke disease in the autumn, and conditions this year indicate that 2012/13 could be a high risk season.

Fiona MacGillivray, an adviser at NADIS sponsor Merial, said: “Parasites are having a field day so it’s really important to make sure that the wormers and flukicides you use are able to cope with the rain.

“Pour-on treatments are often chosen for their convenience but, unless the pour-on is rain-fast, you might as well be pouring money down the drain. Products should be able to be used in wet weather conditions; the alternative may be either a drench or injectable treatment.”

NADIS said that stock should be dosed with a flukicide around eight to 12 weeks after turnout to reduce the release of eggs from cattle infected already.