The backrub is a tool to apply the oil solution to cattle. They are not effective on their own.
AC Backrub Oil
AC Backrub Oil has been specifically developed for the use in backrubs. This product is made from new paraffin oil with additives to ensure it retains its viscosity in the heat as well as making it “tacky” so it will not drip from the backrub. This is a carrier oil to be used in conjunction with an APVMA registered buffalo fly control product. It is not effective on its own.
In the past graziers have reused sump oil to mix with insecticide. This left the cattle marked and their hides “stained” and was contaminating the meat. As a result this practice is now outlawed.
Vegetable oil based products are also used. we have found that the cattle can be attracted to vegetable oil as they love the taste. As a result they can not only lick the mixture off each other and the backrubs, at times they can eat the backrub itself. If insecticide has been added to the vegetable oil, the insecticide will enter the cattle and the active ingredients can kill off a large percentage of the dung beetle. This can result in cattle over dosing on insecticide and the dung beetle population depleting, which is undesirable. Even if “bitterers” have been added to some of these vegetable oil based products they have not deterred all cattle.
This is why we ONLY recommend AC Backrub Oil for use in our backrubs.
Please note: as of 1 January 2023 warranty of your AC Backrub will be voided if any other oil is used except AC Backrub Oil.