Sheep Dag and Breech Soiling: Prevention and Welfare

Dag accumulation and breech soiling in sheep creates welfare harms from flystrike risk, skin irritation, and reduced mobility that proper nutrition and management can prevent.

Key Facts

Dag formation from fecal soiling of wool around the breech is a major predisposing factor for flystrike in sheep
High protein diets and intestinal parasite burdens increase fecal moisture and dag formation risk
Breech scoring systems allow quantification of soiling levels to guide management intervention timing
Crutching (shearing around the breech) removes soiled wool and significantly reduces flystrike risk during peak blowfly seasons
Nutritional management including protein balance and worm control substantially reduces dag formation across flocks

Welfare Considerations

Dag accumulation causes welfare harms beyond flystrike risk. Heavy dag accumulation around the breech causes skin irritation, reduced mobility, and discomfort from matted wet wool. Sheep with severe dag accumulation spend increased time grooming and show altered walking patterns indicating discomfort. Proactive management through appropriate nutritional balance, parasite control, and strategic crutching prevents welfare-significant dag accumulation. Regular breech scoring as a management monitoring tool enables timely intervention before welfare-compromising accumulation occurs.

What You Can Do

Implement breech scoring monitoring programs to guide crutching timing interventions
Balance sheep diets to avoid excessive protein levels that increase fecal moisture and dag formation
Maintain effective parasite control programs that reduce worm-associated scour and dag formation
Crutch sheep before peak blowfly seasons to remove soiled wool and reduce flystrike risk