Blowfly strike is a painful and often fatal condition in sheep that can be largely prevented through proactive management including dagging, shearing, and preventive treatments.
Flystrike causes extreme suffering - maggots digest living tissue, penetrating into body cavities if untreated. Affected sheep initially show unease and wool-biting that escalates to collapse and death. The pain response is severe and sustained. Most cases are preventable through regular inspection, timely dagging of soiled fleece, and appropriate preventive treatments during the fly season. Failure to inspect flocks during summer represents a welfare failure.