Parasitic gastroenteritis is the most costly welfare and production problem in sheep - strategic anthelmintic use based on flock evidence protects both sheep welfare and drug efficacy.
Sheep parasite welfare sits at the intersection of immediate animal suffering and longer-term management sustainability. Parasitic gastroenteritis causes significant welfare harm through weight loss, diarrhoea, anaemia and death. However, unsustainable treatment practices are rapidly depleting the effectiveness of available drugs, creating a future crisis where welfare cannot be protected by treatment at all. The welfare-optimal approach balances immediate therapeutic benefit with stewardship practices that preserve drug efficacy for the long term. Veterinary-guided strategic treatment planning, pasture management and targeted selective treatment are the tools available. Education of farmers about resistance and stewardship is a welfare priority.