Spring is coming, and with it, a critical challenge for sheep farmers: flystrike! This costly and distressing condition can significantly impact your flock's health and your bottom line. As the weather warms up and the rains arrive, it's time to get proactive.
Agriculture Victoria Livestock Extension Officer Brittany Price emphasizes the importance of planning ahead to prevent and manage flystrike effectively. Luckily, there's a fantastic free resource available to help: FlyBoss. This website is packed with specific tools and information tailored to assist producers in controlling flystrike.
So, what are the key strategies for keeping those pesky blowflies at bay? Ms. Price highlights several crucial control measures:
- Shearing or Crutching: Removing wool that attracts flies.
- Breech Modification: Reducing the risk factors.
- Selective Breeding: Breeding sheep less susceptible to flystrike.
- Dag Management: Keeping sheep clean and dry.
- Preventative Chemical Treatment: Using approved products to protect your flock.
But here's where it gets practical: The FlyBoss website allows you to compare your current management practices with alternative approaches, considering your specific location. This is incredibly helpful in making informed decisions about shearing and crutching dates and the timing of preventative treatments.
During periods of high risk, regular inspection of your flock is paramount. Early detection and treatment are crucial.
How to spot flystrike? Look out for these telltale signs:
- Restlessness
- Loss of appetite
- A strong, unpleasant smell
- Visible maggots in the wool
If you find a sheep with flystrike, here's what to do:
- Shear the affected area: Remove the struck wool and a 5-centimeter barrier of clean wool around the strike, close to the skin, to eliminate the maggots.
- Dispose of the infested wool properly: Collect the maggot-infested wool in a maggot-proof (plastic) bag and leave it in the sun for a couple of days to kill all the maggots.
- Apply a registered flystrike dressing: Apply to the shorn area to prevent re-strike.
- Isolate the affected sheep: Remove the struck sheep from the main flock and place them in an isolation paddock. Remember, affected sheep attract more flies.
- Consider culling: Remove struck sheep from breeding programs.
Important Note: If treatment isn't a viable option, humane euthanasia must be carried out.
And this is the part most people miss: Always adhere to the withholding periods for any veterinary treatments and keep meticulous records of all treatments administered.
What do you think? Are these methods effective in your experience? Do you have any other strategies that have worked well for you? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
