Optimise your fly treatments

by Deb Maxwell, Operations Manager, ParaBoss

Flystrike prevention treatments are expensive and labour intensive, so getting the biggest bang for your buck makes sense. The time they are applied makes a big difference to their overall impact. The FlyBoss Optimise treatment tool can find the best application time in your area.

The Optimise Treatment Tool uses your local long-term average weather data to calculate the risk of flystrike across the year. Although the weather is different each year, this tool provides a solid starting point for treatment times, which can be adjusted slightly according to the season.

Results are displayed in a simple graph, and when each management practice (shearing, crutching and chemical treatment) is applied, the tool calculates any reduced flystrike risk and changes the graph accordingly.

When you select the Optimise Treatment button,  your treatment inputs will be moved to the time that gives the best overall impact.

Example

This example from the Optimise Treatment Tool uses the following inputs:

• Location: Hamilton, south-west Victoria
• Shearing: March, week 1
• Crutching: October, week 1
• Breech modification: none
• Treatment: Cyromazine, November, week 1.

The 3 graphs show the flystrike risk with

a) no application of Cyromazine (high risk of flystrike)

b) Cyromazine applied first week of November (current management)

c) Optimise Treatment option applied; treatment was moved to the fourth week of November, giving the lowest risk of flystrike.

How to use the tool

(it’s very easy, no typing, just make selections from the options)

• Go to FlyBoss Tools
• Select 'Location'
• Choose your state
• Click the map at your location: the page will refresh and your nearest weather station will be listed below the map. After choosing a location, your computer will keep this stored until you manually change the location again.
• Select 'Check flystrike risk and optimise treatment time' 
• Press the CALCULATE button before making changes, to see the flystrike risk throughout the year.
• Use the drop down menus to choose your time of shearing and crutching (2 crutchings can be included)
• Choose the breech modification for your sheep
• Choose the treatment product and time of application (2 treatments can be applied)
• Press CALCULATE to see the flystrike risk through the year. See how it has changed after your management inputs have been included.
• Press OPTIMISE TIMING OF TREATMENTS (further down page) to see whether treatments can be applied at a better time. New times will show in the selection boxes and the graph will adjust.

The FlyBoss Tools were developed by Brian Horton, University of Tasmania.

FlyBoss was developed by the Sheep CRC  and it is now funded by Australian Wool Innovation and Meat and Livestock Australia and coordinated by the University of New England.