Blowfly Alert!

[Lovegoodstock]

Lambing shed adjoins a cattle feed passage that is cleaned daily. Sling odd cleansing over wall into that, but I rarely have a cleansing to throw over, our ewe lambs go frantic for it, toss up whether they eat that or lick lamb first. Is this not always the case? Just presumed it was

 

[Al R]

My dog is a barsteward for eating cleansings hence the fitted bit of board in front of the bucket 'cos the old blokes always told me if they ate too many it wasn't good for their eyes. Is that just an old wives tale then

If MrsYB can't find a cleansing in a pen she always calls for the services of the 'sniffer dog', as she calls her, who soon roots 'em out

We chuck them out from the pens/shed for the dogs.. it makes their poo very stringy but that could be the straw going in too!

 

[Al R]

@Al R farms down on the south west coast of pembs from what I can gather. It's got a micro climate of its own down there and would be as early as Devon or Cornwall. Temps of 20 degrees here yesterday even so I can well believe they have blowfly down there in pembs. Fantastic place to farm though I'd imagine.

Very micro climate. They have snow a few times a winter on the preselis which is 25mile away. Yet we havnt had snow since 2010 and we havnt had a frost that has frozen water troughs for 3 years!
We don't get it as hot as most places but humidity is really high.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

.... 'cos she's not over keen of the 'thump' when they hit the ground if she has to drag it out of the pick up herself

Neither am I after the head dropped on my big toe a couple of years back.

 

[Man_in_black]

She's a star (sshh - don't tell her I said that, she'll be after a pay rise). Comes from a 400 year line of farmers but she desperately seeks out one of the hunt staff when she gets there 'cos she's not over keen of the 'thump' when they hit the ground if she has to drag it out of the pick up herself

Mine certainly catching on, she just text me saying "this lamb won't feed...I think it wants to commit suicide". Yep.

 

[It was already broken.]

Took the post lambing box to the knackers on Friday. Loads of green bottle flies all over it and the box was full of maggots. Don't think many non farmers would eat meat if they saw an artic load of bodies piled in a shed.

 

[Man_in_black]

Took the post lambing box to the knackers on Friday. Loads of green bottle flies all over it and the box was full of maggots. Don't think many non farmers would eat meat if they saw an artic load of bodies piled in a shed.

I took ewe on Friday & was greeted by an upside down hanging horse.

 

[yellowbelly]

I took ewe on Friday & was greeted by an upside down hanging horse.

So it's true then - they HAVE managed to get that dead horse out of the stable

 

[It was already broken.]

I got the old fella on Friday. Said he had been there since 1963 and if you pile sh!t high enough you can always make money!

 

[GreenerGrass]

One of my Wilts had the classic symptoms this morning, and sure enough blowflies were about her tail. Treated her with crovect, will have my eyes open now for others. Just a headsup for anyone else in the SW.

 

[andybk]

crutched some ewe hoggs out yesterday , one had a patch about 2" across on tail , wont take a lot of temp rise now to cause problems , though according to forecast thats not on the cards yet .

 

[jemski]

Dagged some hoggets today and had a few with maggots. Nothing major and hadn't broken the skin but there all the same..

 

[Al R]

One of my Wilts had the classic symptoms this morning, and sure enough blowflies were about her tail. Treated her with crovect, will have my eyes open now for others. Just a headsup for anyone else in the SW.

I thought they were meant to shed their wool?

 

[GreenerGrass]

I thought they were meant to shed their wool?

They certainly do shed, but it's only April and they haven't finished shedding yet (some eg nursing twins have only just started). Also even when short fleece they can still get strike. Not common but I had a few last year I had to spot treat. I haven't used preventative before but considering it this year.

 

[ianlucasshearing]

Had a couple of cull ewes today that had full blown fly strike, enough to warrant shearing them off with the Rambo. Not been particularly warm for the last few days either.

 

[Al R]

Had a couple of cull ewes today that had full blown fly strike, enough to warrant shearing them off with the Rambo. Not been particularly warm for the last few days either.

Muggy weather is far worse than bright sunshine.

 

[irish dom]

Dont shout too loudly about strike. Thought i might get a few days off before shearing season starts. Giving people feckin ideas! Cold and dry here with zero growth last week. Grass running short in some places. Would be a proper tramp if it cane this early. My electrodip would want to be pulled out of the shed for a "service" ( few wee prayers before i pull the chord on the pump)

 

[agrotron]

Dagged some ewes today and one had a few maggots on her. Hadn't broke the skin so got there just in time. Hopefully the cold spell will slow them down.

 

[Al R]

Dont shout too loudly about strike. Thought i might get a few days off before shearing season starts. Giving people feckin ideas! Cold and dry here with zero growth last week. Grass running short in some places. Would be a proper tramp if it cane this early. My electrodip would want to be pulled out of the shed for a "service" ( few wee prayers before i pull the chord on the pump)

What's the electrodip?
Ideally I could do with a product like a jetter that you can put "half friendly" insecticide through that could also be used organically, bought 50litres of clikzin the other day just for the upcoming dose. Every ewe has already been trimmed!

 

[irish dom]

What's the electrodip?
Ideally I could do with a product like a jetter that you can put "half friendly" insecticide through that could also be used organically, bought 50litres of clikzin the other day just for the upcoming dose. Every ewe has already been trimmed!

Its an automatic jetting race. Soaks sheep in dip as they pass thru it. I have mine on a plant trailer and contract with it. Usually dip 400 an hour with it. Great bit of kit. Cheaper and quicker than pour on.