Blowfly strike is one of the most severe welfare emergencies in sheep farming, causing rapid tissue destruction and immense suffering. Prevention through targeted hygiene and treatment strategies is essential.
Blowfly strike causes some of the most severe acute suffering documented in farmed livestock. The experience of a struck sheep - larvae consuming living tissue while the animal remains conscious - represents an intense, prolonged pain event that is entirely preventable through appropriate flock management. Prevention through regular observation, dagging, and targeted treatment is the primary welfare strategy. Early detection and rapid treatment of struck animals is the secondary strategy. The welfare imperative is clear: daily observation during high-risk periods is a non-negotiable responsibility of sheep keeping, not an optional management practice.