Check If Your Flystrike Treatments Are Still Active
Recent widespread heavy rainfall followed by warmer humid days has provided optimum conditions for flystrike.
The Department of Agriculture and Food is reminding sheep producers to check their flocks for flystrike, even if they have been recently treated with preventative chemicals.
Department development officer Julia Smith said there were reports of high percentages of flocks becoming struck. The majority of reported strikes have been body strikes, in some cases due to shearing being delayed by recent rainfall and animals having fleece rot.
“Animals with fleece rot are more likely to be affected by body strike as the moisture and associated bacterial growth provide an ideal environment for blowflies to lay eggs,” she said.
“However a range of other strikes have been reported such as foot strike and poll strike.
“The department has received reports of strikes in animals that have already had a preventative chemical applied. Due to heavier than normal rainfall, flystrike chemicals may result in a reduced protection period.
“Even if you do apply a preventative chemical, you should still check your flock frequently, especially after heavy rainfall.”
Producers are reminded that all label directions must be followed when applying flystrike chemicals and it is best to avoid applying them to wet wool. It is also essential to observe wool withholding periods for shearing and export slaughter intervals for both meat and wool.
“If you do apply a preventative chemical at this time of year when it’s not a part of the normal farm calendar, it may have implications down the track,” Ms Smith said.
“If you are an early autumn shearer or plan to turn off lambs or sell animals over summer, your choices regarding appropriate chemicals may be limited in relation to the correct withholding periods.
“The wool withholding period can range from nil (e.g. Extinosad) to three months (e.g Clik), and meat and export slaughter intervals can also range from nil to 120 days. Careful consideration of the length of protection given must also be taken into account. Most products that have shorter withholding periods generally also have shorter protection periods.”
For more information about non-mulesing strategies and details on withholding period for flystrike chemicals visit the department’s website www.agric.wa.gov.au/mulesing