Recording Flystrike
Q: How do I submit the data to Sheep Genetics?
A: Animals should be recorded for the three traits with a “1” indicating the animal was struck or a “0” to indicate a non-struck animal. Record where the strike has been observed on the body using the following trait names,
- Breech strike = BRSTRIKE
- Body strike = BDSTRIKE
- Poll strike = PLSTRIKE
If one animal has been struck in multiple locations, record each separately. Make sure to include a date of measurement and record the on-farm management group.
*Unsure about submitting data in the Visuals module? Please contact your software provider.
Q: I’m unsure about which animals to put in the same management group.
A: Animals in the same on-farm management group should have been exposed to the same treatment, i.e. animals that have
- Had the same preventative treatment
- Been shorn/mulesed on the same day
- Been running in the same paddock/had the same nutrition
Q: How is this data being used by Sheep Genetics?
A: Currently, this data is being collected for contribution to a Research Breeding Value. When more data is available, it will then be used to inform an ASBV. We currently have 3.5 times the number of breech strike records as we do body strike records; the more data we can collect the closer we will be to delivering flystrike ASBVs.
Q: What is the rate of flystrike incidence required for my flock’s data to be analysed?
A: A 2.5% variation in scores must be present per strike type (i.e. there must be 2.5% variation breech, body and poll strike individually, as opposed to the total strike incidence across the flock). Please see:
Flock 1: Not enough variation in any type of flystrike.
Flock 2: Enough variation for Breech and Poll strike data to be analysed.
Flock 3: Enough variation for Breech, Body and Poll strike data to be analysed.