The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development warn sheep producers against increased flystrike

Sheep producers are being warned to monitor an increased level of deadly fly parasites that could tarnish the profitability and welfare of their livestock. Flystrike is a condition in which parasitic flies lay eggs on the soiled wool or open wounds of sheep and costs the Australian sheep industry more than $200 million a year. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development veterinary officer Danny Roberts said recent rainfall coupled with the warmer weather provided the ideal environment for flystrike to occur. “Any evidence of sheep blow flies, even one or two, is an indicator that conditions are ripe,” he said. “The risk is generally unique to each paddock and each producer, as the blowflies that cause flystrike only travel within three kilometres of where they hatch.” Signs of flystrike include sheep that are on their own and not grazing, dark stains on the wool, tail twitching and a distinct odour. Dr Roberts said said it was more economical to prevent flystrike than to treat it and there were a range of effective preventative treatment options available to producers. “Once flystrike is established, the best option is to remove wool around the affected area and apply an approved registered chemical treatment,” he said. “The infected sheep should be removed from the breeding flock as flystrike is heritable.” Southern Livestock Compliance team leader Richard Ward said it was important for producers to treat sheep showing signs of flystrike promptly and not transport them to sale yards while infested. “It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Transport Regulations to transport sheep with a prescribed condition such as flystrike,” Mr Ward said. The DPIRD offer a free Flystrike Assist app to help producers as well as a FlyBoss website which includes a number of tools to assist wool producers to treat individual sheep or the whole flock.