Breeding sheep for reduced flystrike susceptibility through genetic selection offers a long-term welfare improvement that addresses the root cause of one of sheep farming's most serious welfare problems.
Genetic selection for flystrike resistance represents the most sustainable, welfare-positive long-term approach to reducing the enormous flystrike welfare burden on sheep globally. Unlike preventive chemical treatment (which requires repeated interventions) or mulesing (which causes acute pain), genetic selection produces permanent, heritable change that progressively reduces population vulnerability without ongoing welfare cost. The experience from Australia demonstrates that significant reductions in flystrike incidence are achievable through breeding selection for plain-bodied sheep. UK research into breed-specific susceptibility variation and genomic tools for selection provides the scientific foundation for translating this approach into British sheep farming practice.