The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: brentosmond on November 09, 2023, 02:38:43 am
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Hello, Has anyone dealt with this case yet? Currently, there are two sheep in the flock with horn buds, but they are bleeding and there are a lot of flies surrounding them. I have cleaned and treated with iodine but it is only temporary. Any advice and does it have much of an impact on health? Thank
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Cover with PINE TAR or STOCKHOLM TAR both have antiseptic properties , stay put and keep flies at bay . Are you saying that head flies bit and then the sheep rubbed or scratched the horn buds to make them bleed which attracted more flies so more rubbing etc and so it goes on
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Unless you're trying to operate organically, now you know you have issues with horn buds and flies, consider applying crovect or similar to the head of vulnerable lambs as a preventative in future.
In addition :
- use Red Fly traps
- avoid fly havens for lambs during fly season (ie., put them not near natural still water, somewhere open and windswept, ideally no stock fencing or anything they can rub on and damage horn buds)
- watch for cracks in horns and apply stockholm tar before the flies get on it
You can use things like Citronella as fly repellents, but unless you've limited the fly population as above, that won't be nearly enough on its own.
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We routinely apply Crovect to horn buds and around horn bases when we do regular Crovect applications - every 6 weeks in fly season. Fly strike is the obvious risk and as it's so easy to prevent using a product such as Crovect, we forget all about Organics and just give the prevention. We are not registered organic but this is the only instance where we use a chemical of any kind. To my mind it is essential for animal welfare. We have seen a flock, whose pasture was a tree filled, soggy hollow, where the owner insisted on using vaseline as a preventive ::) but had sheep dying, eaten to death by maggots. By the time we left his property he had 'decided' to use Crovect and stop being a fool. As you can see, I have very strong opinions when it comes to fly strike. I appreciate that you [member=227574]brentosmond[/member] don't have fly strike, so you are at the point where you can prevent it. If your sheep are attracting biting flies they may soon be followed by strikers.