Is there a blowfly outbreak in your area?

Due to the phenomenal success of last year’s blowfly monitoring campaign, Agriland is delighted to once again team up with Elanco to make it easier for Irish sheep farmers to identify the risks of a blowfly outbreak occurring on their farms.

To make it easier to assess the risks of a blowfly outbreak in and around your county (or to report cases of ‘maggots’ appearing) we have developed an easy-to-use interactive map.

The outbreak monitoring campaign, targeted right across the 32 counties of Ireland, aims to keep sheep farmers informed of the prevalence of blowfly outbreaks in their local areas.

This is achieved by splitting larger counties into smaller areas to provide farmers with localised information on outbreaks that have already happened.

Already, sheep farmers have reported blowfly outbreaks in counties Cork, Carlow, Galway and Meath. View Outbreak Map

Blowfly outbreak risk heightened

With mild and thundery weather forecast for the coming days, the risk of a blowfly outbreak is heightened on Irish sheep farms.

Blowfly strike is weather-dependent and unpredictable weather makes it a particular problem. Therefore, farmers need to be on the look-out for any signs of blowfly or ‘maggot’ outbreaks.

Blowfly is the main external parasite traditionally affecting sheep in the summer months and, if left untreated, can have devastating consequences.

To be in with a chance of winning an iPad, simply submit a report on where the blowfly outbreak has happened and answer two sheep-farming related questions.

The blowfly outbreak map

Digital advertising solutions delivering

Last year, our outbreak monitoring campaign was honoured at the highest level when it was shortlisted by the Guild of Agricultural Journalists as being one of the Best Targeted Campaigns in their annual awards ceremony.

Commenting on this year’s initiative, Marketing and Strategic Account Manager with Elanco Ireland, Eugene Smyth said: “Elanco is delighted to work with Agriland to produce the early blowfly outbreak monitoring map for Irish sheep farmers.

Early indicators of disease outbreaks, such as the blowfly outbreak monitoring map, are helpful for farmers. Digital platforms lend themselves to getting the message out there to farmers.

Managing Director of Agriland, Cormac Farrelly, added: “It’s great to see an innovative company like Elanco embracing digital media in such a targeted way.

“Last year’s campaign exceeded all our expectations in terms of engagement and response from both farmers and veterinary practitioners. It was a vital reference tool for sheep farmers in the fight against blowfly and, with the changes and upgrades we have made to this year’s monitoring and reporting map, we hope to further enhance its benefit to the farming community.

“This campaign demonstrates the power that digital media provides over the traditional print media offerings. In addition, it further reflects the reality that farmers are now embracing digital media as their primary source of farming news and information.