Sheep Management: Flystrike Prevention

Common sources of protein for female blowflies are carcases, manure, and existing strikes.

L.cuprina is most active between 26°C and 38°C.

Wind speeds above 9km/h will reduce flight activity, and they do not fly at all when it exceeds 30km/h.

<p>Management strategies include strategic chemical application, crutching and shearing, and controlling worms and dags.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A dag score 4 animal can be up to seven times more susceptible to breech strike than a dag score 1 animal.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>WECs help determine whether worm populations are significant and whether scouring is due to worms or an immune reaction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Shearing and crutching can provide up to six weeks protection, but this can reduce to three weeks if the sheep are scouring.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Breeding for reduced dags and wrinkle is suggested as a long-term genetic option.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The strike incidence was 62% of the total for the year despite extremely low numbers of L.cuprina caught.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Preventing flystrike avoids the costs and complications associated with treating affected animals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main types of flystrike are body strike and breech strike.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Environmental conditions influence the prevalence of flystrike by impacting the lifecycle of blowflies and sheep susceptibility.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The primary blowfly is the Australian sheep blowfly, known scientifically as Lucilia cuprina.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The eggs hatch into larvae in 12-24 hours, which then grow from pinhead size to 10-15mm in about three days.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The hairy maggot fly, Chrysomya rufifacies, invades wounds created by L. cuprina but does not initiate flystrike itself.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Reducing flystrike risk improves sheep health, wellbeing, and overall farm productivity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Crutching unmulesed lambs before significant dags form is crucial for conducting the operation safely and easily.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Lambs have less lanolin than adults, leading to reduced binding and retention of the chemical.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Lambs should be docked at the third palpable joint or to the tip of the vulva in ewes and to the same length in wethers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Adult Australian sheep blowflies usually live for about two to three weeks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It allows greater exposure to sunlight, resulting in quicker breakdown of the applied chemical.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Factors influencing susceptibility include sheep health, wool conditions, and environmental conditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Over the board crutching is suggested for excessively dirty unmulesed sheep.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Docking tails too short increases the incidence of rectal prolapses due to its impact on surrounding muscles.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Australian sheep blowfly is copper green in color, about 10 mm long, with reddish eyes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Wear waterproof long pants, steel capped gumboots, long sleeved waterproof gauntlets, and a respirator.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Blowfly larvae typically prefer cooler ground temperatures for pupation, burrowing into the soil at night or early morning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Te Pari Patesco knife leaves a greater bare area on the tail which may reduce urine stain and dags.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Withholding periods are the time between the application of a chemical and the harvesting of wool or slaughter for meat.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Blowfly prevention chemicals should be applied when environmental conditions favor fly development and sheep attract flies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Misuse can lead to resistance development, harmful residues, and adverse side effects on livestock.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Factors include whether treatment or prevention is required, withholding period restrictions, and compatibility with pain relief chemicals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mulesing may not be needed in low risk areas or among producers who select for fly and worm resistance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It's vital to calculate the correct dosage based on the weight of the heaviest animals in the mob.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Breeding for resistance involves selecting rams and ewes based on heritable traits associated with breech strike.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The wool withholding period refers to the time required between chemical application and shearing or meat and export slaughter.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Indicator traits are measurable characteristics that can be used to select animals for breeding against breech strike.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Pre-lambing crutching helps remove wool from around the udder, reducing the risk of udder strike and facilitating suckling.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The equipment should be washed, dried, and stored safely, and the operator should change into clean clothes.</p> Signup and view all the answers