Blowfly strike is the infestation of sheep by fly maggots. In northern Europe it is caused primarily by the sheep blowfly, Lucilia sericata. The maggots feed directly on the skin of the infested sheep, creating serious welfare and economic problems. The presence of feeding blowfly maggots causes considerable distress to the sheep and, if untreated, may lead to its death with in a few days. Strike affects over a million sheep and 80% of sheep farms each year in the UK. A wide-ranging research programme, examining the ecology, behaviour and control of Lucilia sericata, has been running at the university since 1989.
Source: Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Ecology, University of Bristol Blowfly is a particular problem at this time of year: they're in peak season and changeable weather makes treatment a challenging process. Agrimin wanted to find a cost-effective and time-efficient way to help farmers with an animal health problem, which if left untreated can lead to death.

Working in partnership with the University of Bristol, they researched and developed the Agrilure Blowfly trap, designed to successfully attract and kill Blowfly. The trap was inspired by a method used widely in Australia which was developed to work on UK-specific Blowfly. Using natural, organic bait, it helps farmers pinpoint Strike disease risk periods through its precision "lure" and capture design, enabling them to plan animal health interventions more effectively.

South West farmer Mike Amos has been farming livestock for over 45 years and holds a PhD in animal health and nutrition. Mike discovered that he could completely prevent Blowfly from settling on his 110-strong flock by using Agrilure to attract the flies away from the sheep.

He explains:
"I have seen a complete eradication of Blowfly since introducing Agrilure. Originally, half our sheep were treated with a chemical spray, which works to stop maggots hatching once eggs have already been laid, and half were placed in a field with Agrilure Blowfly Traps. The later group had no problem at all with Blowfly as the flies, when given a choice, preferred the trap to the sheep. I have been using Agrilure for two years now and can save time and resources by not having to individually treat sheep with sprays, which rarely last a whole season."

For more information about Agrilure, please visit our Products page