Blowfly strike (myiasis) is one of the most painful and distressing conditions in sheep, caused by blowfly larvae feeding on living tissue. Prevention through targeted treatments and management is far more welfare-positive than treating established strike.
Established blowfly strike causes some of the most extreme suffering experienced by farmed animals - the sensation of maggots feeding on living tissue is agonising, and systemic toxaemia causes collapse and death within days if untreated. Prevention through appropriate insecticide application and regular checking is dramatically more welfare-positive than treating established cases. Farms that systematically apply preventive treatments and check susceptible animals regularly during the risk period achieve very low strike incidence, demonstrating that this suffering is largely preventable.