Farm Animals

Sheep Flystrike Prevention and Welfare

Flystrike, where blowfly larvae eat living tissue, causes acute suffering in sheep and requires proactive management to prevent.

Key Facts

Flystrike can kill a sheep within days if untreated due to toxin absorption and shock
Blowflies are attracted to urine, feces, and wound-soiled wool in warm weather
Mulesing — removing wool-bearing skin folds — is controversial as a prevention method
Selective breeding for plain-bodied sheep can reduce flystrike susceptibility without surgery

Welfare Considerations

Flystrike represents one of the most acutely painful conditions in sheep farming, involving larvae consuming living tissue. Prevention is strongly preferable to treatment from both welfare and economic perspectives. Breeding and non-surgical prevention methods can achieve protection without the suffering associated with mulesing.

What You Can Do

Support wool brands that prohibit mulesing and invest in flystrike-resistant breeding
Advocate for mandatory flystrike monitoring programs on sheep farms
Choose wool from regions with lower flystrike risk or strong welfare standards
Support research into non-mulesing prevention including breeding and topical treatments
Urge retailers to source from suppliers with transparent flystrike prevention policies