Sheep Flystrike Prevention Welfare

Flystrike — blowfly strike — causes severe suffering in sheep and requires a combination of preventive and responsive management to protect flock welfare.

Key Facts

Flystrike affects an estimated 80% of UK sheep flocks at some point
Blowfly larvae can cause severe tissue damage within 24 hours of strike
Warm, humid conditions with dirty fleeces dramatically increase risk
Preventive treatment with insect growth regulators lasts 4-16 weeks depending on product
Dagging — removing faecal-soiled wool — reduces risk significantly in susceptible animals

Welfare Considerations

Flystrike causes intense suffering that progresses rapidly if not treated. A struck sheep can be eaten alive — the sensation of maggots burrowing into living tissue causing acute pain, shock, and systemic deterioration. Most sheep farmers are acutely aware of the welfare implications and prevention is taken seriously during the risk season. However, the size of some flocks and the difficulty of inspecting all animals daily means that strikes are detected late in a proportion of cases. Preventive strategies — chemical treatment, dagging, fly traps, and genetic selection for resistant fleece types — reduce but cannot eliminate risk.

What You Can Do

If you keep sheep, inspect daily during the May-September risk period
Use preventive chemical treatments during the high-risk season
Dag susceptible animals to remove faecal-soiled wool around the breech
If a struck sheep is found, treat immediately or euthanase if too severely affected