While the bottom of the South Island deals with extraordinary amounts of rain this summer, farmers in much of the rest of New Zealand face the other extreme as feed supplies dwindle under an extended and intense dry period.

This summer’s tough dry spell has been made even tougher thanks to last year’s rainfall being well below average in many parts of the country. As a result the twin risks of internal parasites and fly strike are starting to put pressure on sheep performance.

Predictions are for below average rainfall through much of the North Island and upper South to continue in weeks ahead.

Boehringer Ingelheim New Zealand’s veterinary parasitologist Dr Abi Chase is cautioning farmers this summer’s weather pattern poses a blend of high risk factors requiring careful management in coming weeks.

“We are seeing average pasture cover start to come under pressure from lambs lifting their grazing intake and competing more alongside ewes.”

Without enough grass to dilute worm populations, it becomes critical to keep worm populations in lambs down, reducing the risk of worm contamination of pasture before the next summer grazing rotation, where cover may be even shorter again.

“Meantime the intermittent rainfall we have experienced is more than enough to boost parasite larval growth rates – on a lower pasture cover it means the higher parasite levels are concentrated within that lower pasture cover.

“Parasite management when it is drier is a huge thing, particularly when we are getting smaller showers of rain falling irregularly.

“Only 5mm of rain is more than enough to boost L3 larvae to come up onto the pasture and be ingested.”

Fighting worms is best managed with good data on the worm enemy, and Faecal Egg Counts (FEC)s are the best way we currently have to better understand that enemy.

“We witnessed a big surge in FEC samples through labs last season, and want to keep that momentum up. Getting an FEC in summer means you are not just checking worms from the leftover contamination of ewes, you are instead getting an idea of what parasite challenge the lambs have been under.”

Knowing this and working with your vet means a comprehensive programme can be put in place that will protect the productivity of an increasingly valuable lamb flock.

A recent NZ Society for Parasitology conference in Dunedin drew strong interest, and included a parasite management advisory seminar.

“There were close to 75 veterinarians at this seminar, which is substantial for any specific subject. Vets are intensely interested in working proactively with farmers on controlling parasites and keen to know as much as possible about latest developments and techniques.”

Incorporating internal parasite control with fly control over summer also makes sense, not only for saving time and yarding but also because acting on one helps reduce the risk of the other.

“You need to consider an effective internal parasite control alongside fly control, helping reduce dagging, which are a risk to maggot infestations.”

Flystrike is an ever increasing risk as average summer temperatures climb, and the humidity that accompanies intermittent rainfall helps boost fly larval populations quickly.

There are also few parts of New Zealand where the Australian blow fly has not penetrated, bringing a need for some farmers to completely revise their summer parasite control programmes.

The fly’s potential resistance to traditional treatment chemicals like triflumuron has only brought greater urgency for more farmers to revise their programme.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health has integrated its Cyromazine based product Cyrazin with ivermectin to create Cyrazin KO as an effective “one stop” maggot and fly control treatment for summer.

Cyromazine is recognised as a long-standing fly control treatment capable of dealing to fly development for 14 weeks as a user-safe formulation with no documented cases of resistance.

“It has outlived that usual 10-15 year cycle where resistance develops.”

Meantime fly maggots are dealt with effectively through the ivermectin addition. Ivermectin has been in use here and in Australia against flies for many years, and also shows no evidence of resistance development in insects. For this reason Cyrazin KO has recently been given a label claim for control of any lice present when applied for fly control.

“Ivermectin is a highly effective active against fly maggots, including the largest ‘third stage’ ones which are the most difficult to kill. Like cyromazine the ivermectin stays in the wool-grease, for up to 14 weeks.”

“Basically this is a product that ticks the fly and maggot control box at a time of year when you don’t want to be yarding stock any more than necessary, and may even be away from the farm for some time. The combination of actives in this product offer a sustainable way to achieve fly control and peace of mind for summer.”

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