Farmers warned: early season blowfly
Helen Langham, Brand Manager at Novartis Animal Health, said she had received reports from sheep farmers via Novartis Animal Health Account Managers that at least fours farms in England and Wales had been affected so far.
The farms are in Worcestershire, Wiltshire, Devon and Llanelli. All the sheep were treated before the symptoms had gone too far.
"There is accumulating evidence that suggests the blowfly problem is starting earlier in the year and going on later. This year we have had a particularly mild and dry spring, which appears to be having an effect in a number of regions around the country," she said.
Thomas Tiley, a vet with Novartis Animal Health, said prevention was the best
way of dealing with blowfly, but farmers needed to be aware that the traditional
season for treatment was become earlier than before.
HMRC has invited feedback to its communications regarding the employment status of locum vets and vet nurses.
