Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Flystrike Prevention in Summer

Flystrike is a severe and painful condition caused by blowfly strike in sheep, with prevention a critical summer welfare priority.

Key Facts

Blowfly strike can kill a sheep within 3-5 days if untreated
Dag, wool contamination, and skin lesions significantly increase strike risk
Preventive treatments include organophosphate dips and newer pour-on insecticides
Dagging and crutching during summer months reduce contamination risk significantly
Daily checking in warm weather allows early detection and treatment

Welfare Considerations

Flystrike causes extreme suffering - maggots feeding on living tissue cause intense pain, tissue destruction, and systemic illness. Prevention through regular checking and preventive treatments is far more humane than treating established cases.

What You Can Do

Support farmers implementing rigorous flystrike prevention programs
Advocate for mandatory blowfly monitoring in sheep welfare standards
Choose wool and lamb from farms with demonstrated flystrike prevention records