Blowfly: risk factors, control options and application procedure

As we enter the risk period for blowfly on farms, Wesley Power, Veterinary Technical Consultant with Elanco Animal Health, joins Ciarán Lynch on this week’s OviCast. Wesley starts with the risk that blowfly poses on sheep farms as well as the predisposing factors before he moves on to explaining the life cycle of the blowfly and how that affects control options. He then discusses what control options are available and Wesley explains how they work. With many producers relying on topical applications as a control method they discuss the importance of correct application and how it impacts on product efficacy. As the risk seasonal period for blowfly is quite long Wesley explains the need for repeat applications in certain systems before finishing up by encouraging farmers to consider treatment to prevent the blowfly on farms before strike occurs. Watch the correct application method clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7iFeI1eLok For more episodes from OviCast, visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/sheep/ovicast-sheep-podcast