Investigating management systems for the protection of unmulesed sheep against breech strike

Research need

Mulesing has been the keystone procedure in an integrated approach to flystrike control over many years. However, with changing community attitudes to animal welfare issues and the potential for these attitudes to impact on the marketability of wool a commitment was made by the wool industry to phase out this procedure by 2010.

Australian wool growers, through Australian Wool Innovation, are funding a number of projects to replace mulesing. However, there is the possibility that alternatives will not be fully developed by 2010, or may not be available to all woolgrowers by this time.

Key research questions

This study is testing best practice systems based on current technology that could be used to protect sheep against breech strike in the interim. Dicyclanil (Clik ®, Novartis Animal Health Australasia Pty Ltd.) has a claimed protection period of between 18 and 24 weeks.

In addition, crutching and shearing can provide at least six weeks protection under most conditions. This study is evaluating different application strategies to determine whether season long protection can be provided against breech strike by shearing, a midseason crutch and the application of dicyclanil.

Methods

Unmulesed Merino weaners running under pastoral conditions at the Rosebank Research Centre at Longreach were randomly allocated to 3 treatment groups and a control (untreated) group of 80 sheep each. The three treatment regimes being tested are:

1. Dicyclanil applied to the breech immediately after crutching and shearing, according to label directions
2. Dicyclanil applied to the breech 6 weeks after crutching and shearing
3. Dicyclanil applied to both the body and the breech after crutching and shearing

Conclusions

This research is in progress and conclusions have yet to be drawn from the results.

Personnel

Dr Peter James, Ms Joanne Winkleman and Mr Geoff Brown
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
Queensland

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