Fly strike — blowfly infestation of living sheep — causes extreme suffering and rapid tissue destruction. It affects hundreds of thousands of sheep in the UK alone each year and is entirely preventable with appropriate management and treatment.
Fly strike causes intense, acute suffering. Larvae destroy tissue rapidly through enzymatic digestion, and affected sheep show clear distress including restlessness, biting at affected areas, separation from the flock, and rapid deterioration. Untreated, fly strike is fatal within days. The welfare cost is enormous: in the UK, an estimated 80% of sheep farmers experience at least one case per year, with many cases going undetected until advanced. Prevention through appropriate fleece management, swift application of licensed preventive treatments, and daily observation during high-risk periods dramatically reduces both incidence and severity. Welfare-centred flock management treats fly strike prevention as a non-negotiable priority.