Sheep Flystrike Prevention and Animal Welfare

Blowfly strike is a devastating welfare problem in sheep, causing rapid tissue destruction and severe pain from fly larvae feeding on living flesh.

Key Facts

Blowfly strike occurs when blowflies lay eggs in moist wool, especially around soiled areas
Larvae hatch within hours and begin consuming tissue causing rapid, severe damage
Untreated flystrike can kill sheep within days from toxicity and tissue destruction
Merino sheep with more skin folds are at higher flystrike risk
Mulsing - surgical removal of breech skin - has been used as prevention but causes acute pain
Alternatives to mulsing including selective breeding for plain breeching are available

Welfare Considerations

Flystrike causes extreme acute suffering as larvae literally eat living tissue. Affected sheep show frantic behavior including stamping, biting at the affected area, and eventually collapse as toxins from the wound enter the bloodstream. Death without treatment is slow and agonizing. The practice of mulsing, while preventing flystrike, itself causes acute pain to lambs. The long-term solution lies in genetic selection for reduced flystrike susceptibility, combined with effective monitoring and treatment.

What You Can Do

Support wool producers transitioning away from mulsing toward selective breeding programs
Check sheep regularly for signs of flystrike, especially during warm wet conditions
Apply registered flystrike prevention treatments before the fly season
Advocate for mandatory pain relief when mulsing is used during the transition period
Choose wool products from farms with verified flystrike management and mulsing-free commitments