Battling the blowfly
Flystrike results in a loss of $280 million each year to the Australian sheep and wool industry.
Reducing flystrike in the Australian sheep flock is a research priority for the industry, and AWI, its research body, is developing a range of tools that effectively care for the health of sheep and minimise the problem of flystrike.
Projects being funded range from the development of animal-friendly replacements for mulesing, through to genetic solutions, biological methods for blowfly control and improvements in the use of controls available through integrated pest management. In all probability there is no one simple answer to the issue.
Rather a combination of improved technology and animal management will provide a way to better control the impact of blowflies on the Australian wool industry. The ‘Battling the Blowfly’ supplement published in conjunction with this edition of Beyond the Bale reports how AWI is spreading its efforts over a number of areas to improve the long-term outcomes for the industry.
Read the Battling the blowfly supplement or return to Beyond the Bale index page.