PREDICTIONS of a wet humid summer could result in a heightened risk of flystrike the Department of Primary Industries warns.
DPI senior animal health manager Robert Suter said if the forecast was correct it would provide ideal conditions for flystrike."Flystrike is a significant cause of lost production and welfare concerns in the sheep industry,'' Dr Suter said.
"Sheep producers must carefully assess the susceptibility of their sheep, watch weather conditions and check for the presence of flies.
"Susceptible sheep may be those with fleece stain, be close to shearing, have fleece rot, lumpy wool, wounds, abscess, grass seed, lice, footrot, poll or wet wool.
"Correctly timing crutching and shearing will reduce their vulnerability, as sheep in short wool are less susceptible to flystrike,'' he said.
He said producers should monitor flocks more regularly and consider treatments and the withholding periods that may apply.
