This section describes chemical options, application methods and safety when applying preventative or treatment products for flystrike.
Structured reading
For those who like to see all the information and simply read through it in order. Each heading is a link to a page of information—the dot point provides a summary of the page.
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Choosing the right chemical
A description of the chemical groups
Organophosphates
Information about Ops as lice or fly treatments.
Insect Growth Regulators
Information about IGRs as lice or fly treatments.
Ivermectin
Information about Ivermectin as lice or fly treatments.
Choosing the right application method
Overview of application methods.
Jetting
Advantages and disadvantages of hand jetting and automatic jetting races.
Hand jetting
Describes the correct procedure for hand jetting.
Automatic jetting races
Describes the correct procedure for use of automatic jetting races.
Spray-ons
Advantages, disadvantages and technique for spray-on applications.
Dipping
Advantages, disadvantages and technique for dipping.
Occupational health and safety (OH&S)
Describes safe practices when using flystrike treatments.
Treatment of struck sheep
Recommended procedures for treating flystruck sheep.
Insecticide resistance
Management strategies to minimise or delay insecticide resistance to flystrike chemicals.
Video: best practice hand jetting with the Dutjet wand. (4.6 MB)
Video: best practice use of automatic jetting race. (2.5 MB)
Question and answer
For those who prefer a problem based approach to learning, answer the following questions.
Each of the questions below links further down the page to the answers.
Please download and view the two videos before proceeding to questions:
Video: best practice hand jetting with the Dutjet wand. (4.6 MB)
Video: best practice use of automatic jetting race. (2.5 MB)
You can also click on each question below to go to FlyBoss pages with related information.
You can also click on each question below to go to FlyBoss pages with related information.
2. Describe the withholding periods that apply to fly treatments.
3. What application methods can be used for applying chemicals to control flystrike and which one should only be used for emergency flystrike treatment?
The most common application methods are hand jetting, automatic jetting races, spray ons and plunge or shower dipping.
Dipping should only be regarded as an emergency flystrike treatment.
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of hand jetting compare to using an automatic jetting race?
Technique |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Hand jetting |
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Automatic jetting race |
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5. Where must the operator be in relation to the sheep, to hand jet them properly and what does this necessitate regarding safety?
To jet sheep properly the operator must be in the race with the sheep.
As a minimum, they should be wearing waterproof long pants, steel capped gum boots and long sleeve-waterproof gauntlets over overalls. Refer to product labels for specific directions.
6. What pressure must be supplied at the handpiece for effective hand jetting?
The pump must be capable of delivering 700 kPa (100 psi) at the handpiece while still returning enough jetting fluid via the recirculating hose to provide sufficient mixing in the sump.
7. Where should a pressure gauge be installed?
Installation of an inexpensive pressure gauge fitted in-line at the handpiece provides a convenient way of monitoring pressure at the handpiece. It is impossible to see a gauge at the pump while jetting sheep in the race and the reading may bear no resemblance to the pressure at the handpiece anyway.
8. What are the three common wands that can be used for hand-jetting, and which of these is the best for overall utility?
There are at least three types of hand jetting wands: a T-bar design, a sickle shaped design and the Dutjet. Each is capable of doing the job but the T-bar and sickle shaped wands have projecting nipples that can snag in the wool. This makes the task more difficult and tires the operator. The T-bar can be manipulated more easily around the horns of merino rams than the other two designs. The sickle-shaped wand can be hung on a fence and the Dutjet is superior for treating long wool sheep. For overall utility the Dutjet is the preferred design.
9. When hand jetting, what is a good indicator that the jetting fluid is being applied effectively?
Thorough jetting of the back of sheep, irrespective of which wand is used, should ensure sufficient fluid is held in the fleece to penetrate to skin level.
The addition of a scourable food dye such as Permicol Blue®, or the use of an indelible pencil can be used to check wetting. If the sheep have been properly jetted, fluid will run around the body and drip from the belly of thoroughly jetted sheep. Proper jetting for body strike protection should provide coverage for the belly, but rams and wethers may require direct treatment of the pizzle area.
10. What specific design features of automatic jetting races affect their ability to achieve maximum protection for sheep against flystrike?
11. Where can you find a reference table on the recommendations for automatic jetting race design and operation?
On the FlyBoss Automatic jetting races page:
12. What checks and adjustments should be done when the first few sheep are jetted through and AJR?
Adjustments and checks need to be made as the first few sheep are jetted:
13. What are advantages and disadvantages of spray-on products?
Technique |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Spray-on |
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14. How are power-assisted applicators useful?
Many of these products can be applied using power-assisted (compressed air or LPG gas cylinder) applicators. This assists with consistent delivery of the selected dose, ensures rapid and reliable refilling of the gun and reduces operator fatigue. For smaller flocks the simple manual squeeze type applicators available offer a cheap and easily portable means of application. It is essential that only applicators approved for particular products are used and calibrated according to directions for the product of choice, before being used on the sheep.
15. Where must the spray-on be applied to achieve protection?
The aim is to achieve total coverage of the areas needing protection (unlike lice backline treatments, flystrike spray-ons do NOT spread and provide protection beyond where they are applied). If two or more bands are applied there should be some overlap.
16. What should the dose rate be based on?
Some products stipulate dose rates based on bodyweight, whereas dose rates for others are based on wool length. In mobs where sheep vary widely in bodyweight, cost savings, more efficient application and reduced residues might be possible if the mob is drafted into several weight classes. Otherwise, it would be prudent to set the dose to the weight of the heaviest sheep in the mob. Similarly, where dose rate is determined by length of wool growth, similar sheep should be drafted into treatment groups. If this is not feasible for mobs with mixed shearings or where unshorn young sheep vary by more than two months in ages it would be prudent to treat according to the longest wool length.
17. Can spray-ons also be used to treat struck sheep?
No. These products are not suitable for the treatment of struck sheep or sheep with soiled crutches. Struck sheep should be drafted off and strikes shorn and treated as recommended with a registered flystrike dressing. Daggy sheep should be lightly crutched to remove faecal material and urine stain prior to treatment.
18. What safety practices should you carry out before, during and after the use of flystrike treatment and prevention chemicals?
Beforehand:
During use:
After use:
Links to the other FlyBoss online learning topics