Research

Current Projects

Managing Anthelmintic Resistance in Cattle Sustainably (MARCS)

In Ireland's pasture-based farming system, livestock frequently encounter gastrointestinal parasites like gut worms, which harm their health and productivity, especially in young animals. Effective drugs are crucial for controlling these parasites. However, recent research shows that these worms are increasingly developing resistance to the drugs used, posing a challenge to animal welfare and farm productivity.

The MARCS Project aims to

Determine the extent of resistance to wormers on Irish cattle farms
Identify major risk factors for the development of resistance so we can target mitigation strategies
Use models of worm population dynamics to apply sustainable parasite control to Irish farms