Flystrike is a painful and potentially fatal condition in sheep caused by blowfly larvae that feed on living tissue and requires active prevention.
Flystrike is one of the most acutely painful welfare conditions in sheep and entirely preventable with appropriate management. Blowfly larvae cause progressive tissue destruction that is excruciatingly painful, and the smell attracts further flies, creating a rapidly worsening situation. Affected sheep show characteristic signs of restlessness, biting at affected areas, and lethargy as toxaemia develops. Early detection depends on daily monitoring during high-risk periods — a requirement that creates a significant labour burden on extensive hill farming systems where daily checking of all sheep is not always practical. The welfare harm from flystrike is among the most severe of common sheep conditions, making prevention through appropriate wool management, chemical protection, and checking frequency a welfare priority.