Flystrike, grass seed problems, foot scald: Challenges facing sheep flocks
The wet conditions have played havoc in some sheep flocks, as the downside of the best spring in years starts to set in. Here’s some of the challenges facing producers.
LIVESTOCK producers are being warned about the flipside of the best spring in years with a trifecta of challenges looming.
Flystrike, grass seed problems and foot scald are already emerging in some sheep flocks as the wet conditions causes issues.
Sheep Solutions consultant Geoff Duddy said while no one was complaining about the excellent conditions across much of southeastern Australia, producers would need to focus on animal health.
“Of course, a good season augers well for the rebuild of the sheep flock and improving flock numbers but management will need to be proactive and producers will need to be on the ball,” Mr Duddy said.
Flystrike may emerge as a bigger issue this year due to a low number of frosts (which can decrease overwintering fly numbers) as well as the move by some Merino producers to non-mulesing.
“This spring will certainly be a good test of those non-mulesing flocks,” Mr Duddy said.
“Those who could be caught out are flocks which have a long wool length coming into spring, and while I am all for non-mulesing, I think the situation will need to be managed carefully, with crutching and the use of chemicals.”
Meridian Agriculture director Jim Shovelton said flystrike could be a problem if predictions of a wet spring eventuated.
Mr Shovelton, who runs Best Wool Best Lamb groups at Bendigo and Euroa, said investment in chemical treatments could prevent stock losses from body strike.
“In really wet years, it is those body strikes in late November and early December which cause the big losses,” Mr Shovelton said.
“It’s the rain and wet conditions and warmth that cause body strike, so whether you mules or not will not affect this.”
He said the key to avoiding losses was to be prepared with tools like insecticides.
“Producers need to be careful to adhere to withholding periods for the use of these chemicals but preventing losses will more than cover the cost of that treatment,” Mr Shovelton said.
“There is nothing more soul destroying than treating fly blown sheep so with a wet spring predicted, it’s probably time to bite the bullet and treat sheep.”
Meanwhile Mr Duddy said he was also concerned about the issue of grass seeds, and the potential they had to cause discounting of carcasses.
“If you were going to try to decrease the level of grass seed in a good season, grazing would need to have happened two to three months ago so now the option could be to spray out those grasses,” Mr Duddy said.
“While most are probably not worried about the impact of grass seeds on wool value, there is real potential for carcass value to be affected.”
And while wet conditions may cause the re-emergence of foot problems, advisers said these usually cleared up with the onset of summer.
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