Farmed Animals

Tick Control and Sheep Welfare

Tick infestations cause significant welfare harm in sheep and serve as vectors for serious diseases including louping ill and tick-borne fever.

Key Facts

Sheep tick is the main vector of louping ill virus and tick-borne fever in the UK
Heavy tick burdens cause anaemia, weight loss, and skin irritation in sheep
Louping ill causes neurological disease and death in infected sheep
Acaricide dipping and pour-on treatments control ticks but require careful management
Tick populations are expanding in range due to climate change and increasing deer populations

Welfare Considerations

Tick infestations cause welfare harm directly through blood loss, skin irritation, and secondary infection at attachment sites, and indirectly by transmitting serious diseases. Louping ill in particular causes severe neurological suffering before death. Effective tick management through vaccination where available, acaricide use, and habitat management reduces both individual and herd-level welfare impacts.

What You Can Do

Support tick control programs in sheep farming particularly in high-risk areas
Advocate for vaccination programs against louping ill in vulnerable sheep flocks
Raise awareness about tick-borne disease as a welfare priority in upland sheep farming
Support research into tick control strategies compatible with biodiversity conservation
Encourage regular tick monitoring as part of routine sheep welfare assessment