Sheep Welfare in Extensive Grazing Systems

Sheep in extensive grazing systems face welfare challenges from predation, disease, extremes of weather, and limited veterinary access that differ from intensive system concerns.

Key Facts

Fly strike — blowfly larvae feeding on living sheep — kills an estimated 3% of UK sheep annually
Predator losses to foxes and crows are among the most common welfare events in extensive sheep systems
Sheep in remote areas may not receive daily welfare checks, leading to delayed treatment
Footrot causes lameness in 5-10% of sheep in many flocks and is painful and treatable

Welfare Considerations

Extensive sheep systems present distinctive welfare challenges. Animals dispersed across large areas cannot be monitored as frequently as housed livestock, meaning sick or injured animals may suffer for days before being found. Fly strike — where blowflies lay eggs in damp wool and hatching larvae eat into living tissue — is excruciatingly painful and can kill within days. Footrot causes chronic lameness. Predator attacks cause traumatic injury. These welfare challenges require investment in preventive measures — timely shearing, footbathing, fly strike monitoring, and adequate stock check frequency — rather than acceptance as inevitable pastoral costs.

What You Can Do

Support welfare standards requiring minimum stock check frequencies in extensive sheep systems
Choose lamb and wool from producers with documented fly strike and lameness monitoring programs
Advocate for on-farm vet check requirements in extensive sheep production certification
Support research into fly strike prevention methods that replace mulesing