The Buffalo Fly Trap

When was the Buffalo Fly Trap invented?

Social and environmental implications

This trap was made in 1993. It was difficult for people to get Buffalo Fly Traps before because they were so expensive but the CSIRO created a cheap fly trap that would just work as effectively.

Ever since the buffalo trap has been created and used, cows have been producing a lot of milk. If this invention was never created cows would be fully covered with buffalo flies and therefore would be producing a lot less milk and some would be seriously injured due to the blood sucking flies.

Why was this Fly Trap invented?

The reason why the Buffalo Fly Trap was invented was because Buffalo flies were common and would suck a cattle's blood. This would cause the cattle to produce less milk and that was a very serious problem.

What is the Buffalo Fly Trap?

The Buffalo Fly Trap

The Buffalo Fly Trap is a small, plastic tent with a tunnel inside it. There are massive brushes on the inner sides of the tent so cows can walk through the tent with ease and still get cleaned with the brushes. The trap was invented by the CSIRO so the cows wouldn't need to worry about the flies and itch themselves.

Comparison

The previous invention was something like the buffalo fly trap we have now except it needed chemicals.

How does the Buffalo Fly Trap work?

Previous invention

The current invention

The original idea to control the buffalo flies were strong chemicals. The cows had to go through a one metre narrow tent made out of wood and timber. There was a hole dug underneath it and the chemicals would be poured there. When the cattle walk through it they would have to jump in the hole and submerge themselves in the strong chemical. After that they jump back out of the hole and walk out of the tent. This original invention was very dear and not environmentally friendly although it got rid of the buffalo flies.

What happens is the cows or cattles will go inside the tent and the brushes inside will remove all the Buffalo flies. On the roof of the tent, there is a very intensely heated area with a "Fake" window. Scientists have discovered that flies will fly straight in the air so when the Buffalo flies are brushed off, they'll fly straight towards the intensely heated area and get roasted. This was a highly inteligent idea that the CSIRO thought up

The buffalo fly trap we have today isn't expensive, environmentally friendly and doesn't need any chemicals. It also doesn't use electricity and keeps the cows producing a whole amount of milk. The tent is instead made out of plastic and has tough brushes to brush the flies off the cows.

Bibliography

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2015/06/04/4225048.htm

https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/animal-industries/dairy/husbandry-techniques/buffalo-fly-trap

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/australia_innovates/?behaviour=view_article&Section_id=1000&article_id=10002