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SubscribeThis section covers the FlyBoss Tools. These are interactive online tools that assist you to when making various flystrike management decisions.
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.
Tip: Keep this page open and open the links in new tabs.
FlyBoss Tools
Overview of the FlyBoss Tools.
FlyBoss Tools Menu
FlyBoss Tools Menu
For those who prefer an action-based approach to learning, complete the following exercises.
Each of the numbered headings below link to the FlyBoss Tools.
Use this tool to see when flies are the highest risk in your environment, review shearing and crutching times, and choose the best time for treatment.
Go to: http://www.flybosstools.org.au/
Click the last option: Location Select your state Click the map at your location: the page will refresh and your nearest weather station will be listed below the map. NOTE: After choosing a location, your computer will keep this stored until you manually change the location again. |
Exercise 1a: Assess the average seasonal flystrike risk for this area
A graph showing average flystrike risk relative to the highest risk period for your chosen location will appear, showing breech, body and other strike.
You may like to copy, save or make a note of this risk period.
Exercise 1b: See how shearing changes the level of flystrike risk.
Estimate how much flystrike risk has been removed.
Repeat the process for 2 or 3 more different shearing times to see how they change the level of flystrike risk for this location.
Exercise 1c: See how shearing plus crutching changes the level of flystrike risk.
Estimate how much flystrike risk has been removed.
Repeat the process for more scenarios: 1 or 2 different first crutching times, with no second crutching and then 1 or 2 scenarios with both a first and second crutching. See how these change the level of flystrike risk for this location.
Exercise 1d: See how breech modification changes the level of flystrike risk.
Estimate how much flystrike risk has been removed.
Repeat the process for different breech modifications: Clips and Intradermal.
See how these change the level of flystrike risk for this location.
Exercise 1e: See how treatments change the level of flystrike risk.
Estimate how much flystrike risk has been removed.
Now go further down page and press the ‘Optimise timing of treatments’ button.
Note the new treatment date and estimate how much flystrike risk has been removed. This button maintains whatever treatment you chose, but changes the application date if it can find a date that results in an overall reduction in flystrike risk.
Repeat the process for different treatments. Read More
This tool allows you to directly compare the level of flystrike risk from two systems of management at the same time.
Go to: http://www.flybosstools.org.au/
Click the last option: Location Select your state Click the map at your location: the page will refresh and your nearest weather station will be listed below the map. NOTE: After choosing a location, your computer will keep this stored until you manually change the location again. Now choose Compare two management systems for flystrike control |
Exercise 2a: Assess the average seasonal flystrike risk for your chosen system in this location.
Exercise 2b: See how altering shearing date changes the level of flystrike risk.
Which system provides the lowest overall flystrike risk?
Exercise 2c: See how altering crutching date changes the level of flystrike risk.
Which system provides the lowest overall flystrike risk?
Exercise 2d: See how altering first chemical treatment changes the level of flystrike risk.
Which system provides the lowest overall flystrike risk?
Exercise 2e: See how altering chemical treatment date changes the level of flystrike risk.
Which system provides the lowest overall flystrike risk?
Exercise 2f: See how altering a variety of options changes the level of flystrike risk.
Which system provides the lowest overall flystrike risk?
Repeat to experiment with various management changes. Read More
The Products Tool allows you to find treatment products based on whether they are for lice, flies or both; their method of application; and their chemical group. The results show a list of commercial products, each with its active chemical and group and the targeted parasite; and these
Exercise 3a: Search for treatment products
Go to FlyBoss Tools and choose the Products Tool.
(Note: To assist in slowing the development of chemical resistance to products, use a different chemical group each year.)
Q: Can you see (from the table) any reason why you might choose one of the more expensive products?
A: The more expensive products tend to have shorter times for SHI, WHP and ESI. They can be given closer to slaughter, sale or shearing times.
Exercise 3b: Search for treatment products suitable in a dip.
Q: What do you notice the listed products have in common?
A: While there are numerous brands, they are all contain the same active chemical; cyromazine is the only chemical registered for use against flystrike in a dip. As a result, all the associated details including price are the same.
Exercise 3c: Search for treatment products suitable for struck sheep.
Note: Some products do not have costs as the information has not been supplied to FlyBoss.
Q: Based on the product names, how many methods of applying a dressing can you see?
A: Five—Aerosol, jetting fluid, liquid dressing, spray, powder.
This tool allows you to assess the likely level of chemical residue in the wool at shearing, based on a particular treatment.
Exercise 4a: Calculate the chance of exceeding targeted wool residues levels using your current management.
What is the probability that your management and treatment selection will result in wool that exceeds the allowable wool residue level of the chosen target?
Exercise 4b: Calculate the likely residues levels in wool with different management and residue targets.
Has this increased or decreased the chance that the wool will exceed the target residue levels?
Has this increased or decreased the chance that the wool will exceed the target residue levels? Read More
Links to the other FlyBoss online learning topics
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