The 2026 nematodirus forecast, which helps to safeguard lambs from disease pressures, has been published. For 2026, the peak nematodirus egg hatching is expected to occur generally at the end of March and early April in many areas of the country, however, some inland areas will see maximum egg hatching around mid-April. At-risk lambs should be treated approximately two weeks after the peak of nematodirus egg hatching. The department stressed that other parasites can also cause diarrhoea in young lambs which require different control measures and medication. Nematodirus can be wrongly assumed to be the cause of severe diarrhoea in lambs when in fact the cause is a coccidial infection.

Source: Irish Examiner April 09, 2026 15:36 UTC