Sheep Flystrike Prevention and Treatment

Blowfly strike causes severe acute suffering in sheep and is a leading welfare emergency in UK sheep farming, requiring rapid identification and treatment combined with effective prevention programmes.

Key Facts

Blowflies lay eggs in soiled, damaged, or moist wool, and maggots hatch within 12 hours
Struck sheep can be reduced to a maggot-infested wound within 24-48 hours if untreated
Approximately 80% of UK sheep flocks experience at least one flystrike case annually
Prevention includes chemical treatments (pour-ons and injections) and wool management including crutching
The pain and distress of flystrike are severe and affected animals show clear pain behaviour

Welfare Considerations

Blowfly strike is one of the most acutely painful conditions experienced by farm animals. The larvae of blowflies consume living flesh, causing a rapidly expanding wound that causes intense pain, toxaemia, and if untreated, death. Sheep with strike frequently isolate themselves, grind their teeth, and stamp their feet - all clear indicators of severe pain. Prevention through appropriate timing and product selection of chemical treatments, combined with regular inspection especially during warm wet weather, is far superior to treating established strike. Affected animals require immediate removal of maggots, wound treatment, and pain relief.

What You Can Do

Support lamb and wool from farms with documented flystrike prevention programmes
Advocate for mandatory pain relief as part of flystrike treatment standards
Raise awareness of flystrike as a serious welfare emergency among the public
Support research into effective prevention methods including biological and genetic approaches
Report suspected flystrike in sheep to the farmer immediately if you observe it