FLYSTRIKE HITS HARDINMANYGUISES
FLYSTRIKE HITS HARDINMANYGUISES
SHEEP producers in some areas may need to be more vigilant about flystrike earlier in the season, according to a new survey.
Results of the survey, looking at maggots taken from sheep suffering strike, show that flystrike concerns are compounded in Scotland by species other than the common Lucilia sericata.
The survey, by the Scottish Agricultural College, showed that 50% of samples in Scotland contained alternative species, compared with only 2% of samples taken in England. Within Scotland, 81% of samples in the west of the country contained alternative species compared with 26% in the east.
"The main alternative species are Lucilia caesar and Protophormia terraenovae," says Dick Titchener from SAC Auchincruive.
"We think that existing treatments and preventatives are effective but the period of cover may well be shorter. What is certain is that these alternative species strike earlier in the season than producers expect.
"Particularly in the west of Scotland, they must lookout for strike from May onwards, especially if it is hot and humid.
"It should be sufficient to keep a careful eye on the flock and treat any affected animals with a pyrethroid pour on. But if there are fears of strike then a cyromazine pour on will be needed as prevention," says Dr Titchener.
He forecasts increasing pressure on producers to use fewer chemical treatments, and suggests that an alternative method, giving control of blowflies in Australia and New Zealand, are large fly traps.
"These are dustbin sized containers painted bright yellow and containing a carcase or meat substitute treated with insecticide. They work against Lucilia cuprina in Australia and New Zealand and there is every reason to think they would be effective against our species of blowfly," says Dr Titchener.
"There are alternatives to chemical treatment, especially on farms where strike is not a major problem. The increasing lobby against the use of chemicals on farms suggests that we should be studying the effectiveness of these alternatives," he adds. *
Producers, particularly in the west of Scotland, should look for flystrike from May onwards, and consider other control methods says SACs Dick Titchener.
FLYSTRIKEPREVENTION
• Other species involved
• Look for strike earlier
• Period of control may be
shorter than usual
• Consider alternative control methods