[ellisr]

If you don't have any treatment to hand trim all the wool back until it is trimming into clean wool and apply iodine to the area this helps stop infection and also kills the little blighters, but treat correctly ASAP to stop further attack.
My girl who was struck badly is starting to look better and has come for food tonight so I am pleased. Even though mine were all dagged out they have been attack over the shoulder areas can't win with these little blighters roll on shearing time

[feldar]

Can't believe how nasty the flies are this year, yesterday we had to trim a lamb who had fly stuff on his bum area and the flies had laid eggs and pitched into his back and shoulders on perfectly clean wool!
Also why just one lamb some get it some don't? we also notice certain ewes do seem particuarly prone to it year after year.

[ellisr]

I noticed that mine that have been struck anr only the ones that were born 2009 and lambed for the first time this year. Ryelands are really bad and my cross breed seem to be fine year after year

[Fleecewife]

Can't believe how nasty the flies are this year, yesterday we had to trim a lamb who had fly stuff on his bum area and the flies had laid eggs and pitched into his back and shoulders on perfectly clean wool!
Also why just one lamb some get it some don't? we also notice certain ewes do seem particuarly prone to it year after year.

Not sure why they go for the shoulder area but they do, so when you put on your Crovect or whatever, do a stripe down the back, down each shoulder to the armpit, then around the bum and tail, and up under the crutch, also a dab on the horn area, whether they are horned or not. Also, when a sheep has been struck once this attracts other flies to the animal, so if you find big maggots, search carefully for patches of little ones too, or unhatched eggs

[BadgerFace]

Shoulder strikes can be caused by the sheep having mucky feet, sitting down and the muck being transfered from the front hooves to the shoulder wool. 

[feldar]

Yes that's very true we've had maggots transfered from feet to wool. anyway lamby looks a bit odd now sheared off shoulder wool and has been treated properly, we try not to fly treat too much if lambs going to slaughter because of withhold, but now we are in to fly-time of year we will have to be more careful. We are near marshland next to the sea, very fly area

[OhLaLa]

What about a small cut when shearing - any tips please? Do you find the filies go for them?

[ellisr]

Yes they go for small cuts treat with antibiotic spray 'teramycin' and this keeps them away as well as preventing any infection setting in.

[SallyintNorth]

Yes they go for small cuts treat with antibiotic spray 'teramycin' and this keeps them away as well as preventing any infection setting in.

Terramycin works yes, but is an antibiotic and also very expensive.  If the cut is clean, ie not already dirty and/or infected, antiseptic (purple) spray should be just as effective at stopping infection setting in and saves using antibiotics.

[Fleecewife]

Yes they go for small cuts treat with antibiotic spray 'teramycin' and this keeps them away as well as preventing any infection setting in.

Terramycin works yes, but is an antibiotic and also very expensive.  If the cut is clean, ie not already dirty and/or infected, antiseptic (purple) spray should be just as effective at stopping infection setting in and saves using antibiotics.

Good point.  We do need to be careful about overuse of antibiotics which can lead to antibiotic-resistant strains of bugs. Do use them where they are needed though, rather than leaving an animal untreated.