The Parasight

Shifting parasite risks from drought to rain - August 2026

Description: this month, Ben discusses how a significant shift in the weather has affected parasite behaviour, with the year moving from a fairly normal start into a prolonged drought. He explores the risks of haemonchus and mastitis in ewes, while sharing predictions for potential problems once the rain returns. Finally, Ben highlights the importance of vaccinating against pulpy kidney and examines cases of lungworm in heifers and tick-borne disease in cattle.

From coccidiosis to haemonchus: sudden deaths explained - May 2026

Description: this month, Ben covers the common causes of sudden death in lambs, from intestinal torsions and abscesses to pneumonia and coccidiosis. He also discusses sudden deaths in ewes at this time of year, including haemonchus and grass staggers, outlining ways to help prevent these conditions. Finally, he looks at several cases of sudden death in calves.

Fluke treatment errors & lamb disease alerts - April 2026

Description: this month, Ben talks through two real cases where sheep were treated for suspected fluke using the wrong product, outlining the consequences and the issues that arose. He highlights why it’s so important to correctly identify the parasite before treating, and shares a timely warning on coccidiosis and nematodirus in lambs. Finally, he explains why adequate dietary protein is essential for pregnant suckler cows.

Getting lambs and calves off to the best start - March 2026

Description: this month, Ben explains the key areas to consider before lambs and calves are born, helping to give them the best possible start in life. He then highlights several important watch-outs when dealing with dummy calves. Ben also covers the common causes of infectious abortion in sheep, outlining practical steps that can help prevent them in future seasons. Finally, Ben explains the importance of submitting placentas for abortion diagnosis.

Worm risk and seasonal pasture strategies - January 2026

Description: this month, Ben breaks down seasonal pasture risk levels based on recent sheep and cattle activity and explains the associated worm risk. He follows this with strategies for making the most effective use of low-risk pasture. Ben then explains how worm larvae can survive a hot, dry summer and outlines practical ways to manage this risk before the rain arrives. He goes on to highlight key points to consider when scanning thin ewes and hoggs. He also covers a few watch-outs for pneumonia in cattle and strategies to help prevent it. Finally, Ben shares important considerations when dealing with moudly bales.

Worms, fluke & housing: what to know - November 2025

Description: this month, Ben explains how the recent change in weather is affecting worm burdens on pasture, including the potential treatment options to use during this period. He then describes when shearlings develop immunity to worms and the various factors this depends on. Ben also discusses a case of fluke in a ewe and the importance of testing rather than routinely treating animals. Finally, he talks about making the transition to housing calves as smooth as possible and highlights the growing issue of wormer resistance in cattle.

Autumn challenges: pneumonia, worms & acorns - October 2025

Description: this month, Ben discusses the rise in cases of pasteurellosis in lambs. He explains the causes of pasteurella infection and the various stress factors that can worsen its effects. He then talks through the correlation between worms and pasteurellosis. Ben also highlights the risk of acorn poisoning for grazing livestock this autumn. Finally, he shares key considerations for managing lambs going away on winter keep and gives a reminder about quarantine drenching all incoming sheep.

Thought it was Haemonchus, turned out to be Fluke - September 2025

Description: this month, Ben highlights key watch-outs with haemonchus, discussing a case he recently reviewed. He then goes on to explain the difference in growth rates between lambs that have been wormed and those that haven’t. After, he covers various strategies for maximising lamb growth rates. Finally, he discusses a few cases where stock died from consuming poisonous plants, emphasising important considerations.

Weather and worms: farm risks explained - August 2025

Description: this month, Ben emphasises how weather patterns influence disease risk and provides an update on how current conditions are affecting parasite activity. He reports a high number of Haemonchus cases in certain areas across the country and outlines the key signs to look for during a post-mortem. He stresses that each farm is different, and that specific farm issues should be considered before selecting treatment options.

Ben also shares a few recent cases of Nematodirus in lambs and discusses how to respond, depending on post-mortem findings. Finally, he explains the link between grass length and worm risk in lambs and discusses options for managing that risk.