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Twice Upon A Time
Past farming methods key to climate change challenge
by Barnaby Mollett
Don't rely on climate change models. They will be hopeless at predicting future infestations
Research at the University of Bristol finds that climate change models should be based on more than just temperature, and that past farming methods are still relevant today.
The infection of livestock with worms costs the UK sheep industry over £80 million per year. The worms inhabit the guts of livestock, shedding eggs in their faeces, which re-invest the animals.
Experts fear that the worms are becoming resistant to drugs, and climate change could increase their abundance by raising temperature.
The worm larvae were though to die off in the heat towards the end of summer but experiments at the University of Bristol have shown that ultraviolet light also has an effect.
Dr Eric Morgan, who led the research, said "climate change models based on temperature alone may not be sufficient to predict future infestations.” Indeed, computer models taking into account a range of climate change factors, rather than just the global warming aspect, will be important across all industries.
The team’s findings, published in the International Journal of Parisitology, suggest farmers can reduce the risk of infection without resorting to drugs, simply by avoiding grazing their animals on contaminated pasture during high-risk times.
This is nothing new. Historically, the weather has been used by farmers to decide when and where to graze, shear and breed their animals. “It seems the key to the future sustainability of farming may lie in the practices of our forefathers," noted Dr. Morgan.
