Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Blowfly Strike Summer Management

Blowfly strike is one of the most acute and preventable welfare problems in sheep, causing rapid tissue damage and extreme pain during warm weather.

Key Facts

Blowfly strike can cause death within 2-3 days without treatment
Lucilia sericata is the primary blowfly species causing strike in UK sheep
Damp, soiled fleece is the primary attractant for egg-laying females
Diclazuril preventive treatments protect for 8-16 weeks
Risk assessment models using temperature and humidity can predict strike risk

Welfare Considerations

Blowfly strike causes one of the most acutely painful conditions in farming. The maggots consume living tissue and the toxins released cause systemic illness and death. Affected sheep suffer intensely. Prevention using insecticide treatments timed with warm weather is highly effective and essential for welfare-responsible sheep management.

What You Can Do

Support preventive treatment training and risk monitoring for sheep farmers
Advocate for blowfly strike to be included in sheep welfare protocols
Share summer management guidance with sheep producers