Ageing/tolerance study: Data collection across the various studies at Firth Mains Farm was successfully completed and integrated into a central database, including information on parasitology, body weight and reproductive performance. This work established a valuable resource for investigating age-related changes in sheep health and productivity throughout life. The housed infection trial undertaken earlier in the project was completed and analysed, demonstrating variation between animals in their ability to tolerate gastrointestinal nematode infection and identifying associations with immune responses. Additional immunological samples collected from Firth Mains have further strengthened this dataset. Although statistical analyses originally planned for Year 5 are no longer complete due to early project closure, the necessary data have been generated and are available for future analysis.
Early-life study: Two cohorts of lambs were monitored from birth through to their first reproductive events as gimmers, with detailed information collected on growth, health, welfare, parasite exposure and reproductive performance. The performance of their offspring has also been recorded, providing a unique longitudinal dataset to investigate how early-life experiences influence lifetime productivity. Data collection objectives were successfully achieved and the resulting dataset provides significant opportunities for future analyses of the long-term impacts of management and health challenges experienced during early life.
Grazing and sward management study: A grazing trial investigating the effects of grazing management and pasture composition was successfully established. Baseline field assessments were completed and improved pasture mixtures were sown. Data on lamb growth, parasite burdens and immune responses were collected throughout the study, alongside information from commercial farms operating rotational and set-stocked grazing systems. One key finding was that direct drilling of species-rich seed mixtures into established ryegrass pasture did not consistently achieve successful establishment, highlighting important practical limitations of this approach under Scottish conditions. This represented a departure from the original plan and resulted in a formal change request agreed with RESAS. In response, a policy briefing was produced examining the opportunities and challenges associated with direct drilling for biodiversity enhancement. Preliminary findings from the grazing study indicated that lamb performance, parasite burden and immune responses were more favourable under set stocking than rotational grazing in one year of the study, although this effect was not observed consistently across years.
Liver fluke and conservation grazing study: The project investigated liver fluke risk associated with grazing livestock on restored peatland, wetland and woodland habitats. Livestock and snail sampling programmes were established and completed, with fluke infection monitored using faecal testing and molecular diagnostic methods. Results suggest that grazing restored peatlands is unlikely to increase liver fluke risk directly. However, areas used for moving livestock to and from restored peatland sites may present a greater risk of exposure. The work also identified the potential involvement of additional snail species in fluke transmission within these environments. Findings from the study informed a NatureScot Peatland ACTION case study on the animal health implications of peatland restoration, which received considerable interest from industry stakeholders and policymakers.
 

Knowledge Exchange and Impact
Knowledge exchange objectives were fully achieved throughout the project. Researchers established the Environmentally-sustainable Livestock Farming (ELF) Group, bringing together scientists, policymakers and industry stakeholders to identify key evidence gaps and priorities for future research. Project findings were disseminated through events including GO Falkland, the Royal Highland Show, National Sheep Association events, webinars, podcasts and industry workshops. The project also contributed to major conferences, including British Society of Animal Science annual meetings, where dedicated sessions on farming with nature and environmentally sustainable livestock farming were organised and well attended. In addition, the project has supported three PhD students and several undergraduate research projects, helping to build future research capacity in sustainable livestock production.
Overall Achievement of Objectives
The project made substantial progress towards all five research objectives prior to closure. Data collection and experimental activities were completed across all major work packages and generated a significant evidence base on parasite tolerance, lifetime productivity, regenerative grazing systems and disease risks associated with habitat restoration. The principal challenge encountered was the establishment of species-rich pasture through direct drilling, which led to a modification of the original experimental plan and the production of a policy briefing to capture lessons learned. While some data analyses originally planned for the final year remain outstanding, the required datasets have been generated and shared with BioSS for future analysis. Publications arising from the work are expected, and the project has already provided a platform for securing additional external funding and supporting ongoing PhD research, ensuring that the benefits of the project will continue beyond its closure in April 2026.
 

Ageing/tolerance study: Data is being collected across a variety of studies at Firth Mains Farm, all of which will provide data to study the impact of ageing on sheep health and performance. The main task has been to collate data from all these sources to create an Access database to link all these data sources together; this is currently being constructed with a commercial database designer. Data analysis of the housed trial conducted in Year 1 has been conducted by a PhD student and variation in tolerance and immunity identified.  
Early life study: The lambs monitored in year 1 are now 2 year-old ewes and ready for their first lambing. We collected information on how these ewes performed in terms of pregnancy rate, ease of lambing and offspring performance. At birth, the ease of birth, litter size and ewe/lamb bond was recorded. From then on, every two weeks, production data (weight), exposure to disease, response to infection (immunological responses) and welfare measures, was collected from each ewe and lamb and any veterinary medicines used recorded.

Grazing/sward management: A field trial was conducted comparing grazing management and sward type. We used a 2x2 design, comparing traditional ryegrass with a biodiverse sward and set-stocking   and rotational grazing. Each treatment was replicated 3 times, and we had 10 lambs per paddock (n=120 lambs in total). The trial ran from June to October, with fortnightly sample collection of weight (for production), blood sampling (for immunological analysis) and faeces (for roundworm faecal egg counts).  Grass species composition was monitored in August, revealing limited evidence of biodiverse sward establishment.   
Liver fluke study): Liver fluke (and rumen fluke) is present at a very low level at the woodland site, and animals are not treated. On the wetland site, animals were consistently –ve for liver fluke, but farmers treat regularly, due to abattoir findings. On the peatland site, based on our findings in the past two years, farmers have adjusted treatment timings and all samples have been –ve for liver fluke this year. Most of our snail work has focused on the peatland site, which we revisited in 2024. Galba snails were identified on the tracks leading up to the site, as before, but we also identified a different species of snail, most likely Ampullaceana balthica, on the peatland itself. Work is underway to better understand the significance of this finding for liver fluke transmission dynamics. Fluke material is being archived for trematode ITS-2 molecular sequencing work.
KE objectives have been achieved, with project PIs and staff attending the Royal Highland Show, GOFalkland and presenting at a number of NSA events. We have also led discussions with Peatland Action and NatureScot stakeholders, delivered scientific presentations at LiHRA, BAVP, EAAP conferences and contributed to relevant QMS Monitor Farm events throughout the year.
 

Impac
Policy: We continue to provide help and guidance to the Scottish Government Animal Health and Welfare policy team, specifically in relation to the Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) initiative’s animal health and welfare interventions. The grazing management study has highlighted the challenge in establishing biodiverse swards and will have implications should this feature in future Scottish Government agricultural policy. Work is underway to develop a bespoke policy briefing related to this.     The liver fluke work demonstrates that, with continued monitoring and risk assessment, it is possible to engage in agri-environment schemes aimed at promoting biodiversity on-farm, without compromising animal health and welfare.
Industry: Direct KE impact to industry stakeholders has been delivered through a number of stakeholder events, for example, designated NSA events such as NSA Regional and Next Generation events. We also delivered a number of industry CPD events for SQPs/RAMAs/vets (e.g. SRUC CPD series, AHDA/AMTRA SQP CPD) and hosted a number of online presentations and webinars (e.g. NSA/MRI webinar series, SCOPS webinar and podcast series). Project PIs were also instrumental in setting up a Moredun/SEFARI Environmentally-sustainable Livestock Farming (ELF) Working Group and providing FEC training to a Pasture for Life (PFLA) study group.
Public and Professional: Project PIs contributed to public engagement at high profile events such as the Royal Highland Show, Welsh Sheep, Groundswell, GOFalkland, Voe Show (Shetland). We also engaged with the livestock sector and veterinary profession through invited contributions to workshops and conferences e.g. European Federation of Animal Science, Sheep Veterinary Society, British Society of Animal Science, Pasture-fed Livestock Association. 
 

All Year 2 and knowledge exchange objectives were completed. Data collection and biological sampling are supporting a robust, longitudinal understanding of sheep health and resilience in managed grazing systems.

Objectives 1–2: Ageing and Tolerance 
A centralised database is being developed to integrate multiple datasets from Firth Mains Farm. Analysis of the housed trial is underway, showing variation in immune tolerance across animals.

Objective 3: Early-Life Monitoring 
A field trial with 100 female lambs was repeated to expand sample size. From birth to finishing, lambs were monitored fortnightly for weight, disease exposure (e.g. FECs), immune responses, and welfare indicators (e.g. DAG score, lameness). Year 1 lambs (now hoggs) were monitored again and mated, creating a multi-generational dataset.

Objective 4: Grazing and Sward Management
A biodiverse pasture mix was drilled across six paddocks, with monitoring showing early establishment of some grass species.
 

Objective 5: Liver Fluke Monitoring
Fluke surveillance continued across three sites. Low-level infections in sheep, cattle, and mud snails were found, with DNA sequencing confirming up to 10% prevalence of liver fluke in snails and identifying co-occurring wildlife trematodes.
 

Knowledge Exchange
Project findings were presented at the Royal Highland Show, NSA events, and scientific meetings (LiHRA, BAVP), and discussed with Peatland Action, NatureScot, and QMS Monitor Farms. 
 

Objective 1 (Ageing): The sampling scheme has been discussed and the decision made to construct a database for all animals at Moredun Research Institute's (MRI's) Firth Mains Farm. Discussions with a specialised database engineer are ongoing and data collection has commenced.

Objective 2 (Tolerance): A controlled infection trail was carried out in summer 2022 and successfully completed. Laboratory work on samples collected during the trail is being undertaken, and should be completed soon. The sampling scheme for the tolerance aspect of the rotational grazing trail (Objective 4) has been discussed and finalised.

Objective 3 (Early life): A field trail was conducted following 101 female lambs from birth (April) to finishing (October). At birth, several parameters were measured including ease of birth, litter size and ewe-lamb bond. Every two weeks from then on, information on the following has been recorded for each lamb: production data (weight), exposure to disease (e.g., roundworms, fluke), response to infection (immunology) and welfare measures (e.g., diarrhoea index, breathing ability, fleece quality, lameness), with any veterinary medicines being used also recorded. All lambs will be retained on-farm, will give birth at 2 years and their lambs monitored for their first grazing season. In consultation with BioSS, a database for all of the data collected for this Objective has been prepared.

Objective 4 (Grazing/sward management): Fields for replicated sward species enhancement x grazing regime trails have been selected at Firth Mains. The sward mix has been decided in combination with James Hutton Institute (JHI) colleagues and stakeholders, and rotational/mob grazing treatment designed.

Objective 5 (Fluke risk): The presence of liver fluke is being assessed through regular faecal egg count analysis from selected groups of 'sentinel' animals at the 3 study sites (wetland, woodland, peatland) over the grazing season. Fluke-infected animals have been identified on each study site this year. Scientists have visited each site at least once this year, to assess mud snail habitat and collect snail samples for species identification and determination of fluke infection status.

Knowledge Exchange (KE): Our expertise and experience in sustainable parasite control has been used to inform members of the Scottish Government Animal Health & Welfare Policy Team, and also the Scottish Government Agriculture Reform and Implementation and Oversight Board (ARIOB) Animal Health & Welfare Sub-Group, convened by the Chief Veterinary Officer. Direct KE events with industry stakeholders included designated Nasional Sheep Association (NSA) events such as the Malvern Show and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events for Suitably Qualified Persons and Registered Animal Medicines Advisor (SQPs/RAMAs; e.g., Norbrook and Elanco) and hosted several online presentation and webinars (e.g., National Sheep Association (NSA)/MRI webinar series). We engaged with the livestock sector and veterinary profession through invited contributions to workshops and conferences, e.g., Sheep Veterinary Society in Belfast and Penrith. Finally, we also hosted a meeting of the international Livestock Helminth Research Alliance (LiHRA) Consortium, comprising all major players in livestock helminth research worldwide.