Research Project
The 2 year project titled ‘Utilising new tools to improve liver fluke control on Victorian dairy farms’ is being led by researchers from La Trobe University and Agriculture Victoria, based at the Center for AgriBioscience facility, with funding support from the Gardiner Foundation and Dairy Australia. Our aim is to provide dairy farmers with access to new diagnostic tools to improve biosecurity surveillance of liver fluke infections in dairy cattle and the snail hosts that transmit liver fluke. We anticipate that these tools will allow the development of an Integrated Parasite Management (IPM) approach for liver fluke control on dairy farms located in key Victorian irrigation regions.
Purpose of research
“To develop techniques to identify the true extent of the issues associated with liver fluke infections within Victorian dairy herds, with the aim of improving farm profitability through the implementation of an integrated parasite management program”
Steering committee
Independent Chair: Dr Charles Milne
Chief Veterinary Office, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Dr Kathryn Davis
Program Manager, Animal Health and Fertility, Dairy Australia
Ms Mary Harney
Chief Executive, Gardiner Foundation
Professor Grant Rawlin
Research Leader, Veterinary Pathobiology, Biosciences Research Division, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Professor Terry Spithill
Professor of Animal Sciences, Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University
Dr Travis Beddoe
Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University
Dr Jakob Malmo
Veterinarian, Gippsland Veterinary Hospital
Mr Stewart McRae
Dairy farmer
Participating veterinary practices
Tatura Vet Clinic, Kyabram Veterinary Clinic, Clavin, Rogers & Associates, Rochester Veterinary Practice and the Gippsland Veterinary Hospital.
