The first cases of blowfly strike in 2019 have been reported in several locations across the UK.
The cases were reported via the Elanco Blowfly Strike Tracker, which produces an interactive map highlighting areas hit with blowfly strike in real time.
The tracker offers farmers real-time updates on blowfly risk along with expert industry advice.
The first case of strike was reported in Glamorgan, with several more reports coming in from Somerset, Lincolnshire, Dorset, and Caernarfonshire.
Kate Heller, technical vet at Elanco said: “Blowfly season has arrived, with multiple reports in quick succession. The costs of inaction when it comes to blowfly strike far outweigh the costs of protection – the time to act is now.
“With 99 percent of farmers having suffered financial losses as a result of blowfly strike, the potential impact on your flock simply isn’t worth the risk. Farms need to take control — and take control early — by using a preventative IGR product with full fleece protection.”
Kate advises that just monitoring symptoms is not an effective strategy. “By the time symptoms show themselves, it’s often too late", she said. "It’s easy to overlook even one struck sheep, and blowfly strike can cause huge damage in very little time. In addition, using protection early reduces risk later in the season by ensuring a much lower fly count as the season progresses.”
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