INDUSTRY TRAINING

To find out about Industry Training events please click the heading above.

FLYBOSS LAUNCH - VIEW THE PRESENTATIONS AND VIDEO CLIPS

If you missed the launch of the FlyBoss website you can now view the launch presentations and also video clips of the website coordinater, FlyBoss Tools developer and a Sheep Producer located in the New England area, talking about the new website and about managing flystrike. Please click here.

Welcome to the FlyBoss website - FOR ALL SHEEP PRODUCERS

Flystrike is a major risk and disease for the sheep industry.

Each year, treatment costs and lost production associated with flystrike costs the industry $280 million.

Sheep are affected by both breech strike and body strike – FlyBoss provides you with the latest information to reduce the risk through management and breeding approaches and provides information on treatment of flystrike outbreaks.

The information on the FlyBoss website is supported with training workshops delivered throughout Australia.

Information on Flystrike Management Workshops is available in the 'More Information' section of FlyBoss under Industry Training.
 

The issues with flystrike

There are two forms of flystrike – breech strike and body strike.

Of the two, breech strike has the largest impact on the industry. Mulesing has been used for many years to reduce the risk of strike in the breech. Market pressures are challenging the use of mulesing as a practice to reduce breech strike risk. There are clear messages from the wool supply chain that processors and consumers are seeking supplies of wool from non-mulesed sheep.

Regardless of whether or not you mules your sheep, reducing the risk and incidence of flystrike in the flock is critical to reducing its impact on productivity, profit and animal welfare.

It is timely for all sheep producers to review their flystrike management techniques and strategies. Every sheep producer needs to consider the options and strategies for flystrike management and make a decision about mulesing – considering the market for their wool, implications for the productivity of their enterprise, management constraints and animal welfare.
 

The principles that reduce flystrike risk and strike

Reducing the risk of flystrike requires an integrated approach that combines your annual management program – shearing, crutching, chemical applications and perhaps breech modification – with the breeding and selection of less susceptible sheep.

The chosen combination of strategies will vary between producers, depending on their sheep type, location and enterprise type.

The industry is now undergoing rapid change with many producers replacing mulesing with alternative management, breeding and selection – having a plan for flystrike management is imperative.

FlyBoss will help develop a plan that is relevant to your sheep enterprise, your goals and your location. The website takes you through the relevant steps for reduced risk and improved management.

1. Understand what makes sheep susceptible.
2. Assess your risk using a range of tools
3. Plan your breeding program
4. Establish an annual management plan
5. Effectively treat flystrike when it occurs. 

The Sheep CRC acknowledges the contribution of its partner organisations in the development of this website.