Parasite Control
Effective and timely parasite control on farm has significant impacts on animal health, farm productivity and the processing industry.
Programme Manager
Dr Natascha Meunier
Beef HealthCheck Programme Manager
Natascha graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, in 2005. She worked there for several years in mixed practice and as a government vet. In 2011, she moved to the Netherlands to complete a MSc in epidemiology, where she also worked in private practice as a veterinary practitioner.
With a keen interest in infectious diseases, Natascha undertook a project studying bovine tuberculosis in cattle and wildlife in Uganda, obtaining her PhD in epidemiology through the Royal Veterinary College and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 2016. She has since worked on research projects based at the University of Edinburgh and undertook a residency with the European College of Veterinary Public Health and Population Medicine, which she completed in 2020.
Natascha joined AHI in 2019 managing the Beef HealthCheck and Parasite Control programmes.
New antiparasitic medicine rules
From the 1st of December 2025 all antiparasitics sold for cattle, sheep and horses will require a veterinary prescription. This includes all wormers for gut, stomach and lung worms, coccidiosis, fluke, flies, lice and mite treatments.
Click here for more information
PARASCOPE Project
Smarter parasite control, designed with farmers.
Parasites cost Irish livestock farms an estimated €181 million every year, and growing resistance to treatments means this problem is becoming harder to manage.
At the same time, new regulations are changing how treatments can be used. This creates a clear need for better, more sustainable ways to control parasites, built around how farms operate. PARASCOPE is designed to meet that need.
SPARC Knowledge Network
The SPARC (Sustainable Parasite Control in grazing ruminants) knowledge network is an EU-wide project that aims to reduce resistance and reliance on anthelmintics in ruminants, by identifying, applying and sharing sustainable worm control strategies.
Parasite Control TASAH Consult
As part of the Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH), a Parasite Control TASAH consult, between trained veterinary practitioners and their clients will be made available for 2026 for cattle, sheep and equines. For more information about this animal health service:
Due to a very strong response, please note that farmer registrations are currently paused as we review applications, updates will be communicated as soon as possible.
If you have any questions about the Parasite Control TASAH, please click on the link below.
Parasitic Disease Forecast
Parasitic Disease Forecasts are regularly available from DAFM for Irish farmers. These are prepared by DAFM parasitologists using knowledge of parasite lifecycles combined with meteorology data to predict the possible upcoming patterns of parasites and probable impacts on-farm. DAFM work closely with other industry experts such as the AHI TWG for Parasite Control to provide the most accurate forecast possible.
Service Provider Portal
The link below to AHI’s Service Provider Portal is for use by trained Veterinary Practitioners, in the context of all TASAH-funded activities including BVD, Irish Johne’s Control Programme, CellCheck, Parasite Control, Pig HealthCheck, Poultry and IBR.
