Leader produces anti-flystrike clips
A new alternative for controlling flystrike is now on the market in time for the 2009 lambing season. Leader Products has been licensed by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) to produce the anti-flystrike clips.
“AWI is committed to delivering viable flystrike control alternatives to woolgrowers,” said the company’s CEO, Brenda McGahan. “While mulesing remains the most effective means of reducing breech wrinkle and breech wool cover, the clips are a new alternative on the market,” says Ms McGahan
The clips are made from conventional polypropylene and can be removed between eight and 14 days after application. Clips can be re-used at least once, thereby reducing the cost per lamb.
Australian Wool Exchange CEO, Mark Grave, said: “Wool from sheep treated with clips is eligible to be declared as ‘non-mulesed’ on the National Wool Declaration (NWD). If clips are applied to all lambs on a property, and the grower intends to continue this as a routine practice, then the wool from other sheep (eg ewes previously mulesed) on the property are eligible to be declared as ‘ceased mulesing’ on the NWD.
“It’s crucial that growers declare their wool clip through the NWD as this sends important information to our customers,” Ms McGahan said.
Clips will not be suitable for all producers and sheep, but AWI is encouraging woolgrowers to try them out on their own sheep in their own environments.
