Change in the weather could be a tonic for flies

Dairy and beef farmers are being advised to be on guard for a sudden increase in nuisance fly populations, and consider using a fly control product if we see a change from the current dry weather conditions.

The summer to date has seen some unseasonably dry weather, with many parts of the country only receiving a fraction of their average rainfall. In May, typically around 30mm of the 50mm average fell, and the first part of June has seen little reprieve from the tinder-dry conditions.

“The dry weather has effectively put a check on the growth and development of flies and their larvae,” states Intervet’s product manager Tim Zoch. “While this has been a welcome relief to most dairy and beef farmers, just a few days of rainfall could see flies becoming a major problem.”

Both milk yield and growth rates can be adversely affected by nuisance and biting flies, so it is important that measures are put in place to minimise their effect.

“Farmers should look for fly control products that offer a long duration of control,” says Mr Zoch. “Treating every other month, rather than monthly, is less stressful for stock and considerably less time consuming. Intervet’s recently launched Butox SWISH offers unmatched protection against nuisance and biting flies, and is the only product that provides as much as eight-to-ten weeks activity.”