Elanco urges preventative action ahead of blowfly season

Elanco Animal Health has reminded UK farmers to take precautions against blowfly strike as the weather starts to heat up.

The company has warned that the unseasonably mild weather – the warmest winter on record, according to the Met Office – could pave the way for a sharp increase in the UK blowfly population.

As such, Elanco is launching its Strike First campaign, which includes a survey of farmers to assess attitudes to blowfly strike and also sees the return of the firm's blowfly strike tracker.

Parasitic blowfly can have a severe impact on the health of sheep, infesting their skin and damaging the productivity of flocks. The use of preventative products with full fleece protection can help safeguard animals, as killing flies from the first wave of insects reduces the total number of flies for the rest of the season.

A range of support materials will be provided by Elanco to specialist retailers and farmers to encourage discussion and preventative action on blowfly.

Fiona Anderson, technical consultant manager at Elanco Animal Health, said: "It's crucial we do not get complacent when it comes to blowfly – the costs of inaction can be devastating."