Tick-Borne Disease and Sheep Welfare

Ticks transmit several diseases causing significant welfare problems in sheep including louping ill, tick pyaemia, and tick-bite fever; prevention through management and vaccination protects flock welfare.

Key Facts

Louping ill, a viral encephalitis spread by ticks, causes neurological disease and death in sheep
Tick pyaemia causes joint abscesses and lameness in lambs causing chronic pain and poor growth
Tick populations have increased in the UK with milder winters and expanding deer populations
Vaccination against louping ill and tick management through grazing practices reduce disease incidence

Welfare Considerations

Tick-borne disease in sheep represents preventable welfare harm through vaccination and management practices that reduce tick exposure and transmission risk. Louping ill causes progressive neurological deterioration and death — a severely welfare-compromising condition that is entirely vaccine-preventable. Tick pyaemia joint abscesses cause chronic pain that impairs mobility and feeding for extended periods. Integrated tick management including grazing management, strategic timing of sheep movements, and targeted acaricide use provides comprehensive welfare protection.

What You Can Do

Support farms implementing comprehensive tick management and vaccination programmes
Advocate for tick control requirements in sheep welfare standards in high-risk areas
Raise awareness that tick-borne diseases cause significant preventable suffering in sheep