[moprabbit]

Now the warmer weather is on its way hopefully, my thoughts are turning to prevention of flystrike. I should be getting my ewes sheared about mid May so don't want to use any chemicals that would be a problem to my shearer, but want to protect against flystrike in the mean time. Last year I used 'Barriers Blowfly Repel' which seemed very good but it stained the fleeces which I use for spinning. I wondered what other people have found effective that maybe didn't stain the fleece yellow? Thank you

[Tam]

Crovect - but you'd probably have to retreat after shearing.  I am fortunate with Wiltshire Horn - they don't need shearing.

[DavidandCollette]

We are in North Lincolnshire and will be ringing the shearer today

[Bionic]

I treat with dynamite pre shearing and then click once the new fleece has grown a bit

[Hellybee]

Mmmm clikzen but that s still got 7 weeks clearance. What about clearing them real short on the bum and maybe through shoulder to give little clearance for the flies to Lay?

[shep53]

Have you looked at BLOWFLY traps .

[beagh-suffolks]

ectofly? it comes out blue, but does come off when washing fleeces as far as ive been told, we use it an seems to do the job

[moprabbit]

Thanks for all the replies. Ectofly sounds interesting.  I'll go and have a look round my local agricultural merchant - see what they've got. They seem to have loads of things for horses, wondered if any of those would be suitable? Has anyone tried them?

[Hevxxx99]

Take my word: fly repellants for horses are nigh on useless.  Most horse forums have threads rueing this fact and come up with such things as listerine or a mix of paraffin and detol as being more effective. 

I used Coopers/Pfizer Spot On last year, which is only used on established fly strike, but helps keep most nasties at bay as well. I don't remember any staining on the fleece as you put it on the skin.

[Dogwalker]

I'm trying neem oil.  Spray it on at 4 weekly intervals.

wait to see if it works.

[Crbecky10]

Crovect to prevent fly strike. Ectofly doesn't last as long or have as much of an effect as crovect.

[landroverroy]

Crovect is permethrin, which presumably is one of the chemicals you are trying to avoid. However, as mentioned on a previous thread, it can be diluted significantly and still be effective against blowfly, but less potentially harmful to your shearer. It needs to be diluted with an oil, as opposed to water, to prevent it just running off the fleece. I have found dilution (about 5x) with red diesel very effective. I tried for the first time last year and got no blowfly strike, even though I didn't shear until July. I've also put it on my mule this year and so far it has prevented her getting sweet itch, in spite of the midges coming thick and fast in the last week.
You could also use paraffin for dilution, or liquid paraffin (aka pig oil) - obtainable in 5l packs  from agricultural merchants.

[Dogwalker]

Not sure I'd want to handle a fleece with diesel on it either though.

[landroverroy]

Hence the option of using liquid paraffin, which is the prime ingredient of baby oil.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

What about an infusion of quassia chip and citronella, smells disgusting to flies and citronella helps keep mosquitoes at bay too.