New NZ product rapidly knocks down lice in sheep

New NZ product rapidly knocks down lice in sheep

Lice can be a costly problem for New Zealand sheep farmers - with a heavily infested fleece returning nearly a quarter less than a normal fleece.

Ravensdown has introduced a new leading edge sheep lice control product - Fleeceguard - that rapidly knocks down lice in three to four weeks.

Fleeceguard is a unique water-based combination lice pour-on for sheep that has been exclusively developed for Ravensdown by a New Zealand-based parasite control expert.

"Fleeceguard has two active ingredients, diflubenzuron and deltamethrin, which gives rapid lice knock down in three to four weeks and sustained control of lice," says Ravensdown veterinarian Dr Gavin Goble.

"Combination products prolong the development of resistance and Fleeceguard is a water-based pour-on, so it's safer, more user-friendly and easy to use. This isn't a generic - it is a brand new product developed using the best features of Insect Growth Regulators and Synthetic Pyrethroids for lice control."

Dr Goble says this new product highlights Ravensdown's commitment to developing new technology for the wool industry.

"With the current increase in wool returns to the farmer, Fleeceguard means they can enjoy even greater returns with increased fleece weights and overall fleece quality."

Development work was carried out in the North and South islands on fine and coarse wool breeds of sheep, so farmers can have total confidence Fleeceguard is the right option to control lice on their sheep.

Lice infestation reduces wool weights, downgrades wool quality and increases the likelihood of flystrike. A heavy lice-infested fleece can return up to 24% less than a normal fleece.

Biting lice (Bovicola ovis) are a continual problem to sheep farmers, particularly if they get established into medium to heavy infestations. Control of lice can be an expensive and time consuming operation for most New Zealand sheep farmers.

"While total eradication is possible, it is more feasible to prevent new infestations and minimise the impact of any existing lice. By far the most important source of new infestations is other infested sheep," says Dr Goble.

Sheep susceptibility to lice is affected by a number of factors, including breed (finer wool breeds tend to be harder to treat because the wool is denser), bloodlines within a breed, age (lambs are more susceptible than older sheep; emphasising the need to avoid running untreated lambs with recently treated ewes) and health and nutrition. The heaviest infestations of lice are found on lambs with low growth rates and sheep under stress from poor nutrition or disease.

Most lice "outbreaks" on farms are a result of residual infestation of lice not eradicated at the previous treatment. The key elements in a lice control programme are shearing, chemical treatment or lice-control product, resistance to particular chemical family, correct application and secure boundaries and internal fences.

"Contact with lousy sheep from neighbouring flocks or contact between lousy and clean mobs on your property will undermine your control programme."

Dr Goble also recommends quarantine dipping all sheep brought on to your property; a product that gives quick knockdown of lice will shorten the quarantine period.

"Also get into the habit of regular checking - routinely check sheep for lice every summer and/or autumn just before shearing. Treat all sheep in a mob and all sheep on the farm. Don't forget rams, pet lambs and killers."

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