Gastrointestinal parasites are the most significant welfare and production challenge in sheep farming worldwide. Integrated parasite management reduces suffering and drug resistance.
Heavy worm burdens cause significant suffering — anemia, weakness, diarrhea, reduced feed intake, and inability to maintain body condition. Lambs are most vulnerable and can die rapidly without intervention. Flock management that relies on routine anthelmintic dosing without monitoring fails both to address welfare effectively and accelerates drug resistance, reducing future treatment options. Welfare-positive approaches combine targeted selective treatment, refugia preservation, genetic selection, and nutritional support to protect individual animals while maintaining sustainable treatment options.