Losses From Flies Worry Farmers

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31011, 17 March 1966, Page 1

Losses From Flies Worry Farmers

“The loss flies cause this country with damage to wool and the loss of sheep must be tremendous,” said Mr R. E. Hiatt (Amuri) at a meeting of North Canterbury Federated Farmers meat and wool executive yesterday. Mr L. E. Taylor (Oxford) said flies were “terrific” this year. He had seen an open pit containing carcases, and millions of flies must have come from it. Mr J. A. Jamieson (Cust)

said burning was the best way to get rid of carcases. Mr R. H. Bedford said fire restrictions often precluded burning. To try to do anything with carcases on the breeding grounds was just about an impossibility, said Mr Hiatt. Farmers did not have the time to collect carcases from all over their property and dump them in a pit. He said that this year the fly problem in Canterbury was as bad as it had ever been. Sheep were affected by a form of dermatitis which looked like a yellow powder in the wool. When the wool on a sheep’s back was separated a seething mass of maggots could foe seen. When the wool was in this condition and it became damp flies went in straight away, said Mr Hiatt. He intended bringing the matter to the attention of the newly-estab-lished Wool Research Institute at Lincoln. Mr G. van Asch said that at the last Industries Fair he had seen a high-capacity electrical incinerator which he understood was made locally. He said he would make inquiries and see if it would be suitable for burning carcases. The executive agreed to leave the matter until Mr van Asch had made his inquiries.