Natural preventions and treatments for flystrike in sheep

Five organic and conventional sheep farmers in the SE of England are exploring the prevention and treatment of flystrike using natural alternatives to the commonly used chemical products.

Blowfly strike in sheep is a serious condition caused by blowfly larvae (maggots) feeding on sheep flesh. It is a significant welfare and economic problem for sheep farmers, affecting more than 75% of farms in the UK, and is said to cost the sheep industry over £2million per year. Due to climate change the UK is experiencing longer periods of blow fly activity and strike attacks.

The trial is evaluating whether natural products can:

• Delay and/or limit the use of conventional fly repellent sprays
• Prevent fly strike using natural alternatives during the active season
• Allow treatment of strike patches without endangering shepherd, sheep or the environment

The field lab will trial these natural products alongside the widely used existing chemical products.

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How it works

Blowflies are the most widespread ecto-parasite affecting sheep in the UK. Virtually every sheep farm in the UK uses flystrike preventatives, the vast majority are chemicals such as synthetic pyrethroids.

Treatment of strike has implications for:

• The health and welfare for sheep, shepherd, and shearer.
• Fleece value following blow fly attack (chemically sprayed fleece has a lower value)
• Fleece scourers and processors
• The effect of these chemicals on soil and water sources (Synthetic pyrethroids are extremely toxic to aquatic life)

Current use of natural spray preventatives in the UK is low due to lack of knowledge and shorter durations of protection. The field lab will enable the gathering and dissemination of knowledge on efficacy and length of protection/reapplication times etc. on farm.

The field lab will also collect evidence on using a specific concentration of tea tree on strike patches, for ridding sheep of maggots and killing eggs.

Trial design

The trial is a three part approach to natural fly strike prevention and treatment.

Part 1: All the livestock involved will receive a fly strike prevention natural combination in their water troughs, and strike occurrence will be compared to surrounding farms.

Part 2: This will involve testing and comparing two spray-on products, one conventional and one natural alternative.

Part 3: The final part of the trial will be on the treatment of any strike patches – to compare:

• a tea tree essential oil formula,
• a proprietary natural product, ‘barrier hygiene blow fly repel’
• a conventional product to treat actual eggs and hatched maggot patches

An ethical protocol will be followed to ensure animals are all treated appropriately and timely to prevent needless suffering.