How to navigate changes in parasite controls

I have become increasingly interested in why people do – or don’t do – certain things, writes Nerys Wright. Why, for example, do some people embrace change while others struggle?

I recently read a book called ‘Switch – How to Change Things When Change is Hard.’ it was a fascinating read. It is not a farming book – but it made me reflect on the ways I communicate during meetings and with farmers

I wrote down some key messages from the book that really hit home:

• In the absence of a dire threat, people will keep doing what they’ve always done.

• Incentives to change behaviour don’t work.

• Knowledge isn’t enough to motivate change. Motivation comes from confidence.

• We need to believe we can change and understand why it is necessary.

• What looks like resistance is often a lack of clarity.

A good example is parasite control. Despite shifting recommendations over the last 20 years, many farmers struggle to adopt more sustainable practices. Why? Probably because there isn’t so much information on implementing change.

We also re moving away from the straightforward message of ‘worm your lambs every three weeks’ to more complex and variable approaches, making it clear why change is challenging.

A good example is faecal egg counting (FECs). When I started my career 20 years ago, FECs were just becoming a useful farm management tool. But many people still don’t do it – choosing to use other methods instead.

Yet FECs can be beneficial. If you search for ‘benefits of egg counting,’ you will find plenty of data supporting its effectiveness. However, many start doing counts and then stop, while some have never started at all.

If you’re thinking, “I need to look at my parasite control programme, FECs might be a good place to start” please get in touch with your sheep vet, SQP, or advisor. They’d be happy to help.

Nerys Wright is an independent sheep consultant. For more details, call 07891 187643 or visit sheepconsultancy.co.uk.