Duggan Veterinary Supplies are delighted to provide a new alternative Oxyclozanide product to Irish veterinary practices. The product Distocur is dual authorised for use in both cattle and sheep, and licenced for the treatment of infections caused by the adult stage of Fasciola hepatica, sensitive to oxyclozanide, and for the elimination of gravid tapeworm segments (Monoezia spp.).
According to Animal Health Ireland, liver fluke disease causes considerable economic losses for farmers, both in terms of a decrease in production of milk and meat, and also condemnation of livers (up to 50%) in the meat plants. These losses to livestock and food industries are estimated to be up to €2.5 billion worldwide. Milk production losses of 8% in cows, along with meat production losses of 20% in cattle and 30% in sheep are apparent. The effect of liver fluke disease on fertility is also evident, along with a longer time for beef cattle to reach market weights. Both of these effects come at a cost to the environment, in a time where farmers are under increasing pressure to produce milk and meat as sustainably as possible.
In terms of individual animal losses, liver fluke has been seen to be responsible for sudden death cases in cattle, due to its ability to trigger certain clostridial diseases of cattle. There is also newer evidence to suggest that liver fluke may also have an effect on other infectious diseases, such as Tuberculosis and Salmonellosis.
Donal Duggan, Managing Director of Duggan Veterinary Supplies, noted that ‘there has been no reported resistance of adult stage liver flukes to Oxyclozanide to date, meaning vets and farmers can have confidence in Distocur being effective in their flock or herd liver fluke control plan. Distocur also holds the advantage of a shorter milk withdrawal than many flukicide products – only 4.5 days milk withholding. Cattle and sheep have a 13 day and 14 days meat and offal withdrawal respectively.’
