VetDX, a UK-based provider of digital tools for livestock diagnostics and health planning, has launched a new end-to-end solution for anthelmintic resistance monitoring in sheep.
By integrating faecal egg count testing at Sandhill Laboratories with the VetDX app, the solution streamlines Animal Health and Welfare Pathway (AHWP) reviews – from on-farm sampling through to laboratory results, reporting, vet attestation and Defra compliance.
The AHWP offers government funding to farmers to support structured health checks, including pre- and post-drench worming assessments in sheep.
These assessments are essential to identifying resistance and supporting sustainable parasite control. While the scheme brings clinical and economic benefits, the paperwork and logistics can be challenging to manage.
By integrating every stage of the process into a single digital workflow, VetDX said its platform allows practices to carry out efficient, compliant visits with a reduced administrative burden.
Laura Eden MRCVS, farm animal vet at Bishopton Vets, said: “What’s really improved the process for us is how straightforward it is to submit samples and how quickly we get results back from Sandhill.
“It takes a lot of the hassle out of coordinating AHWP visits and lets us focus on the clinical side.”
Gastrointestinal nematodes remain a major cause of morbidity, mortality and production losses in sheep, both in the UK and globally.
Resistance to all major classes of anthelmintics, including benzimidazoles, levamisole and macrocyclic lactones, is increasing.
Rachel Kirkby MRCVS, business development director at VetDX, explains that the app supports both clinical decision-making and regulatory compliance without adding to the vet’s workload.
“The AHWP is a real opportunity to tackle issues like anthelmintic resistance in a structured, funded way – but only if the process is workable on the ground,” Ms Kirkby said.
“That’s why we’ve built the platform to fit naturally into how vets carry out these visits, supporting accurate on-farm data capture with features like in-app QR code scanning. It means lab results are securely linked to the right animals or groups, without the risk of transcription errors or lost paperwork.”
