In warmer parts of the country, DIY traps set up by livestock farmers are indicating an increase in fly populations, according to Zoetis vet Dave Armstrong.
"This provides a good evidence-based trigger for conversations between farmers and animal health SQPs or vets about protecting cattle and sheep with fly control treatments," he says.
"Don't wait until flies have become a nuisance to livestock and people alike. Setting up a few DIY traps around the farm can give an early indication that treatment may be needed."
Residual pour-on pyrethroid treatments such as deltamethrin or alphacypermethrin are licensed to control insects for up to eight weeks depending on species and population.
From Dorset, a photograph shared by @sheep_farmers on the #parasitewatch page of Twitter in mid-April provided an example of farmer-to-farmer sharing of early warnings and information to aid evidence-based decisions.
Instructions how to make a DIY fly trap can be found at #parasitewatch on Twitter, dated 13 May.
For accurate treatment selections, farmers are advised that deltamethrin is contained in Fly & Lice Spot On™, alphacypermethrin in Dysect™ Cattle Pour-On 15g/l and Dysect™ Sheep Pour-On 12.5g/l. Both are classified POM VPS
