[lee.arron]

with the warm weather around and slight scouring from the richness of the grass my sheep are on i am dreading if im unfortunate enough to encounter fly strike. will be my first summer keeping sheep and im starting to stress already . After treating for scab using dectomax i was told this can also prevent fly strike,  does any one else use this? .

[lee.arron]

And now the more im reading about it and seeing extreme images on google the more i worry. prevention is obviously the best cure

[FiB]

Watching this thread with interest - I'm in the same boat.  I also treated with dectomax, but before christmas.   I'm sure we will get lots of good experienced shared here - this site has been my main mentor through my first 12 months...thanks and long may it continue and hope I am able to put back some useful tips soon!

[Sylvia]

If they've had their lambs you could dag them.

[plumseverywhere]

I will be treating my little flock this year. The co-operative sheep that grazed last summer were not treated preventatively - seeing a young ram lamb go down with flystrike was unneccessary and quite horrific. he recovered but I do believe prevention is better than cure.
Am also liaising with the 'singing shearer' from on here to come and give them a nice hair cut!!
will be interested to hear when is best to treat though from those with experience 

[Fleecewife]

I thought Dectomax treated scab.  I've never used it against fly strike.  You are right that prevention is better than cure.  Although it is hot at the moment I have heard no reports of the kind of fly which causes strike being around - not that that means much as I could have missed it.  Up here in Scotland we are usually ok until May for flies, although we have midges, mozzies and so on well before that.
To prevent fly strike:
1) - treat the scours ie check worming and any other possible cause before assuming it's caused by new grass - it may well be the grass, of course.
2) Dag thoroughly, and wash the bums with soapy water if very poopy
3) if you think that blowflies are around, treat with Crovect or your chosen product (once bums have dried), remembering that these products will contaminate the fleece for three months after application, so should not be used on fleece intended for craft work, for processing, or on a sheep to be judged at a show. I would far rather go ahead and treat to prevent strike, then discard the fleece and not show the sheep than risk the horrors of fly strike.
After treatment, repeat as necessary - with Crovect it's every six weeks, with Clik I think it might be 4 months, so check the information which comes with the product, then make a note in your farm diary.
As with all such things, treatment is not a 100% guarantee of avoidance, so still watch out for signs of strike.

[plumseverywhere]

I'm interested to learn more about the pro's and con's of Crovect Vs Clik?  I can see an obvious advantage in the longer time between treatments. Does it work out financially the same do you know? Is one better in other ways that the other?
I like the idea of not having to round up the animals too often in the hot weather and being able to get a few things done all at the same time.

[FiB]

I'm interested to learn more about the pro's and con's of Crovect Vs Clik?  I can see an obvious advantage in the longer time between treatments. Does it work out financially the same do you know? Is one better in other ways that the other?
I like the idea of not having to round up the animals too often in the hot weather and being able to get a few things done all at the same time.

...and also whether either of them work better or are not advised straight after shearing....  I used spot on 4 weeks ago (on Vet advice) and it hasnt worked at all (for biting lice), wondered if fly strike prentatives had a similar action (ie work better with less fleece)??  So many questions!!!  Mad weather - frost on fields in morning, panting sheep huddled in the shade by lunchtime!

[Hagrid61]

I have just found a product over here in France called Vital Repuls, I have been told that it is a non toxic treatment which is based on essential oils.
So I purchased some today to try, I will let you know how we get on as the flies here are up and about already

[woollyval]

Spot on is a synthetic pyrethroid....kills but dosent prevent! Make sure you use a good 5ml plus a bit more if sheep v big and put between shoulder blades.
Crovect can treat AND prevent and has a shorter withdrawl for meat so better used on lambs.
Clik is a larval stage inhibitor and so will prevent BUT if your sheep has microscopic hatched maggots already it will not kill.
Clik has a long meat withdrawl period so use on ewes and lambs being retained for breeding.

All have serious health handling issues and I am of the opinion that good dagging ...really good, goes a long way to preventing bum strikes but early shearing, but not too early prevents shoulder strikes.....Then a good application of crovect or Clik....making sure correct amount for weight of animal after shearing and treating all lambs at same time works well

[shep53]

DECTOMAX is used to treat scab and worms . SPOT-ON is not affected by length or thickness of fleece as you part the fleece and apply directly onto the skin, it can take up to 6 weeks for a full lice kill , after applying  you need 2hr's of dry conditions . CROVECT kills lice and maggots,ticks , prevents strike but only on the areas covered by spray, for lice it is affected by a heavy thick fleece and you may need to repeat, for strike as said you must repeat, after applying you need 4hr's dry conditions . DYSECT and ZERMASECT are similar  but claim 8week protection.   CLIK is only for blowfly protection lasts 16 wk's ,needs only 2hr's dry is unaffected by fleece thickness , can be applied at shearing. IF you dag  while protected by a pour-on  you must re apply to the clipped areas

[FiB]

Wow shep thanks - what a comprehensive answer!!!  I shall cut paste and keep that.  Reasuring that the spot on may yet work, but worrying that the vet got it wrong (re spot on and fleece length - we did part the wool and apply directly onto the skin on shoulder midline, so hope that was right at least!).  MANY thanks from this novice.

[Brucklay]

I thought the dose with Crovect was slightly different for lice, ticks and flies and so was the application - I've used the thin line from shoulder to tail tip and the spray for different things - this may clarify

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Crovect-Pour-On-for-Sheep/productinfo/CROVECT/ - then click dosage and administration

[in the hills]

Ahhhh...... I was just about to post when Brucklays reply appeared. We used Crovect but applied a thin line down the centre of their backs ..... preventative to fly strike. It was a pour on. Is that what we should have done? Now I am confused.

New to sheep and thought of fly strike fills me with horror. When do most people treat as a preventative? My sheep mentor tells me to wait until May up here.

I know this is probably a silly question but what are the early signs of a sheep having fly strike? How long have you got before it is too late? I know that a similar thing in rabbits kills them pretty quickly. Sorry for my ignorance!

[Brucklay]

According to the instructions - ticks - thin line - lice also a thin line - Headflies the t-bar end and Blowflies the fan spray.

So far I've treated a few weeks after shearing so they have a bit of grown back as I believe this stuff is pretty powerful and so far we are lucky enough not to have has any cases but I think excessive scratching, loosing wool is the first sign - I'm sure you get a better answer than mine.

I hate the thoughts of strike too and just try and keep an eye on everyone and their habits I think that can help