Pesticide use and residues on Queensland wool

Abstract

Most Queensland wool clips have acceptable amounts of residues after the use of OP and SP pesticides, but wool growers can further reduce residues by effectively controlling louse infestation with pesticide applications early after shearing and the use of non-chemical methods of ectoparasite control.

Surveys to assess the amount of pesticide in wool and the use of pesticides by woolgrowers in Queensland

“…Darling Scientific and 1997 have been described. 4 Changes detected in pesticide application practices for lice control in the present study, compared to the previous study, include a decrease in the proportion of woolgrowers applying pesticides twice or more during the wool growing season (27 to16%), and an increase in woolgrowers using backline applications (54 to 76%) on the first occasion and applying pesticides within 3 months after shearing (64 to 86%). Changes detected in pesticide application practices for flystrike in the present study, compared to the previous study, include a decrease in the proportion of woolgrowers applying pesticides for flystrike (81 to 52%), those applying pesticides twice or more during the wool growing season (25 to19%) and applying pesticides within 3 months following shearing (17 to 8%), and an increased proportion of woolgrowers using handjetting applications (37 to 66%) on the first occasion.…”

“…Amounts of pesticides in Queensland wool and application practices used by Queensland woolgrowers have been reported for the period 1993 to 1997. [4][5][6] Over this period, a decrease in the amounts of OP and SP residues was observed. Pesticides to control infestations of lice appear to be the major contributor to the amount of residues in wool.…”

“…In surveys covering the wool growing period 1993 to 1997, 81% of respondents reported treating for flystrike and 83% of these respondents applied pesticides > 3 months after shearing. 4 Both the proportion of woolgrowers using pesticides for flystrike and the timing of these applications during the wool growing season are important determinants of the amount of residues in wool. Pesticide treatments late in the wool growing season present a major obstacle to reducing pesticide residues in Queensland wool.…”

A postal survey of blowfly strike occurrence in two Queensland shires

“…In recent surveys of the Queensland sheep flock, 81% of producers reported applying pesticides for flystrike at least once during the wool-growing season. 15 Identification of high-risk groups of sheep at high-risk times of the year can reduce pesticide use. Predictive models have been developed, aimed at forecasting these high-risk flystrike situations.…”

Trends in the use of pesticides and pestiside residues on Queensland wool

“…However, OP and SP residues up to 130 and 170 mg/kg, respectively, have been detected in individual clips. 1 In 1994, representatives of the Australian wool industry set a goal of halving the amount of OP and SP residues in the wool clip by 1997. 2 This decision was made to ensure that wool maintains a clean, natural image in the market place.…”