With rain and warmer temperatures heading into spring, sheep producers will need to keep flystrike prevention front of mind.
Agriculture Victoria Livestock Extension Officer Brittany Price said producers should plan ahead to implement flystrike prevention and control programs to assist in managing the disease.
FlyBoss is a free website resource that provides producers with specific tools for flystrike
control.
Ms Price said these controls include shearing or crutching, breech modification, selective breeding, dag management and preventative chemical treatment.
“The FlyBoss website allows producers to compare their current management system with an alternative system taking into account their location,” she said.
Flystrike in sheep can show up as restlessness, loss of appetite, a strong smell, and visible maggots in the wool.
The following treatment method is recommended for fly struck sheep:
1. Shear struck wool and a 5cm barrier of clean wool around the strike close to the skin to
remove maggots
2. Collect the maggot-infested wool into a maggot-proof (plastic) bag and leave the bag in the
sun for a couple of days to kill all maggots
3. Apply a registered flystrike dressing to the shorn area to prevent re-strike
4. Remove struck sheep from the mob and place in an isolation paddock and monitor (stuck sheep attract more blowflies)
5. Cull struck sheep from breeding programs.
Ms Price said if treatment is not a viable option, humane euthanasia must be carried out.
“As with all veterinary treatments, it is essential to observe the withholding period and keep accurate records of any
treatments administered,” she said.
For further information on the management and treatment of flystrike please visit: www.flyboss.com.au
To find information about available drought support visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.
