Blowfly Watch
The Blowfly watch in conjunction with Elanco predicts the emergence of blowflies based on Met Office Data. This can help to predict risk of clinical cases and help treatment timings.
In the unusually hot weather we are experiencing in most parts of the country, blowfly populations are highly active and growing; the strike risk is therefore extremely high. However, blowfly eggs need high humidity to hatch. If sheep remain perfectly dry, in hot dry weather many blowfly eggs will not hatch into maggots. However, rain which soaks the fleece or scouring (soiling the fleece with faeces) will raise the humidity sufficiently to allow eggs to hatch and strikes to develop. A high degree of vigilance after summer rain, and good control of parasitic worms to minimise faecal soiling are therefore essential pillars of good strike management.
