R.T White and Co Sheep Shower offers an expertise mobile sheep dipping service for the treatment of lice.
Here they offer their top tips for best practice on keeping sheep lice free for longer:
- where ever possible shear all sheep in the one shearing
- when necessary to carry out separate shearings ensure that sheep from different shearings are fully segregated
- liaise with your shearer to ensure a clean shear
- shearers that have worked in a lice heavy shed should minimise transfer risks - a convenient method is to microwave moccasins for 5 minutes
- aim to avoid long wool chemical applications which are less likely to fully eradicate lice
- a clean muster at shearing is essential
- prevent re-infestation by stock proofing boundary fences to keep outside sources away always keep cropping paddock boundary gates closed to keep stray sheep out
- pay close attention to boundary fencing, creek crossings, roadways, drains and timber plantations
- remove any dead sheep from paddocks that dipped sheep will be returning to
- It is important that any stray sheep are treated before being reintroduced to the flock – ask neighbours to follow good biosecurity procedures
- it is preferable to sacrifice one sheep than risk the whole flock - if in doubt, destroy sheep.
It is also important to remember that whilst sheep are unlikely to pick up lice, which rely on their host to stay alive, from loose wool on posts and fences or from long grass and trees, but lice can stay alive on a dead sheep for up to 3 weeks.
Contact RT White & Co for more information about its lice treatment dipping services.