Farmed Animals

Livestock Fly Control and Welfare

Fly strike and fly worry cause significant welfare problems for livestock, with prevention requiring integrated management approaches.

Key Facts

Blowfly strike affects approximately 80% of UK sheep flocks annually
A single blowfly can lay 200 eggs that hatch within 12 hours in warm conditions
Flystrike causes extreme pain as larvae feed on living tissue beneath the fleece
Preventive treatments including Clik and organophosphate dips reduce strike rates by 70-90%

Welfare Considerations

Flystrike is one of the most acutely painful welfare problems in sheep farming. Larvae create wounds that expand rapidly, releasing compounds that attract more flies. Untreated cases deteriorate from discomfort to severe systemic illness and death within days. Early recognition and treatment are critical, but prevention through flock monitoring, shearing, and targeted treatments is far more humane.

What You Can Do

Support sheep farming systems with documented fly prevention and monitoring programs
Advocate for minimum flystrike prevention standards in sheep welfare codes
Choose lamb from farms with certified higher-welfare management that includes fly control
Support research into preventive treatments that avoid organophosphate resistance development