Livestock Fly Control and Welfare in Summer

Flies cause significant welfare harm to livestock through biting, wound colonisation and disease transmission, requiring integrated pest management approaches.

Key Facts

Face flies and horn flies cause significant irritation and stress in cattle during summer
Blowfly strike in sheep involves fly larvae feeding on living tissue causing severe welfare harm
Headfly causes welfare problems in sheep particularly in hill systems
Insecticide treatments provide effective control but resistance is developing in some fly populations
Physical fly control including housing timing and manure management reduces fly burden
Wound treatment and monitoring reduce strike risk in susceptible sheep

Welfare Considerations

Fly-related welfare problems range from constant low-level irritation causing behavioural change and production losses to the severe acute suffering of blowfly strike. Strike-affected sheep experience intense pain from larvae feeding on living tissue and secondary infections. Prevention through dagginess management, monitoring, and prompt treatment of at-risk animals is the welfare-priority approach. Insecticide treatments provide protection but resistance management requires strategic use. The welfare cost of fly burden is often underestimated because behavioural signs of chronic irritation are less obvious than acute disease signs.

What You Can Do

Implement integrated fly management combining housing, manure management and targeted treatment
Monitor sheep for blowfly strike risk especially after wet weather and treat promptly
Use insecticides strategically to manage resistance while maintaining effective control
Support research into non-chemical fly control approaches