Blowfly strike is a painful and potentially fatal condition in sheep caused by blowfly larvae feeding on living tissue, requiring urgent prevention and treatment strategies.
Blowfly strike causes extreme suffering — larvae secrete enzymes that liquefy and consume live tissue, generating intense pain. The condition is visible from a distance in severe cases (wool lifting, discoloration, behavioural signs of distress) but mild early-stage strike is easily missed. Surveillance intensity must increase during peak fly season (spring to autumn in temperate climates). Preventive insecticide products (organophosphates, insect growth regulators) provide time-limited protection. Mulesing — surgical skin removal — is a contested preventive measure; alternatives exist and should be promoted. Detection requires at minimum twice-daily checks during high-risk periods and immediate treatment when strike is found.