Project to unravel changing buffalo fly patterns

Following a significant increase in the incidence of buffalo fly in the North West last summer, the district vets with the North West Livestock Health and Pest Authority have embarked on a new project aimed at identifying whether the pest’s distribution is changing and preventative options.

While a common pest in coastal areas of Queensland and north-eastern NSW, the distribution of buffalo fly in other areas of NSW has been increasing over recent years.

Shaun Slattery, North West LHPA senior district vet, says the new project is being managed by Moree district vet Derek Lunau and involves an active surveillance program with a number of landholders throughout the North West LHPA.

"Buffalo flies have been active mostly in the northern part of the authority for the past three summers, with last summer being particularly bad, so we’ve initiated a local project to look further into the situation," he said.

"Currently we have 20 landholders from across the North West LHPA district participating in the project and we’re surveying those landholders to ascertain activity on a monthly basis.

"The project will look into whether the distribution and activity of buffalo flies is changing and based on those findings may assist in developing preventative management options.

"For the areas close to the Queensland border, we’d normally expect buffalo fly to be active closer to Christmas time, so we’re surveying early to ascertain if they’re occurring earlier in the season."

Buffalo fly feed off cattle causing irritation which can result in reduced production if cattle are heavily infested. They live permanently on the host, only leaving to lay eggs in fresh dung.

A recent study commissioned by Meat and Livestock Australia estimated that buffalo fly is the fourth most costly disease for the Australian beef industry (Holmes Sackett and Associates, 2005).

"There are a number of options for controlling buffalo fly, but the choice depends on the individual situation. For example, when the flies are below are certain density chemical control is often not warranted," said Dr Slattery.

"Also the use of chemicals can result in residues in meat and some chemicals are toxic to dung beetles, which form an important component of the natural defence against many pests. In this case, they break down dung which is critical in the buffalo fly life cycle."

To become involved in the project or to report buffalo fly activity on your property contact your local office of the North West LHPA.

Media contact: Kylie Dunn 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378