Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Tick-Borne Disease and Welfare Management

Tick-borne diseases including louping ill, tick-borne fever, and tick pyaemia cause significant welfare problems in upland sheep flocks.

Key Facts

Ixodes ricinus ticks are the primary vector for sheep tick-borne diseases
Tick-borne fever caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum is almost universal in tick-infested areas
Louping ill virus causes neurological disease with high mortality in naive sheep
Tick pyaemia causes joint abscesses and lameness, particularly in lambs
Acaricide treatment and grazing management reduce tick burden

Welfare Considerations

Tick-borne diseases cause acute illness including fever, neurological signs, and lameness. The cumulative welfare burden from tick-transmitted pathogens in high-risk areas is substantial. Integrated tick management combining grazing management, acaricide use, and where available vaccination reduces both disease burden and suffering.

What You Can Do

Support integrated tick management training for upland sheep farmers
Advocate for louping ill vaccination in high-risk areas
Share tick-borne disease management resources with hill sheep producers