Sheep Lice and Mange: Welfare Treatment in 2026

Ectoparasites including sheep lice (Bovicola ovis) and sheep scab mite (Psoroptes ovis) cause intense pruritus, skin damage, and chronic welfare compromise in untreated flocks.

Key Facts

Sheep scab (Psoroptes ovis) is a notifiable disease in Great Britain causing severe welfare compromise
Affected sheep experience intense itching, wool loss, skin thickening, and deteriorating body condition
Louse infestation causes rubbing, wool damage, and chronic pruritus affecting welfare throughout winter
Injectable macrocyclic lactones are effective against sheep scab but lice require separate treatment

Welfare Considerations

Lice and mange mite infestations cause persistent pruritic suffering that significantly degrades sheep welfare. Sheep with sheep scab show intense, unrelenting itching that prevents normal grazing, rest, and social behaviour. Wool loss and skin damage compound suffering through impaired thermoregulation. Louse-infested sheep exhibit chronic rubbing behaviour that causes fleece damage and secondary skin trauma. Both conditions are entirely treatable but require correct diagnosis, appropriate product selection, and whole-flock treatment to prevent reinfestation. Regulatory notification requirements for sheep scab reflect its severity and the need for coordinated area-wide control.

What You Can Do

Implement regular ectoparasite monitoring as part of the flock health plan
Report suspected sheep scab to your vet and comply with notification requirements
Use appropriate treatment products based on diagnosis — sheep lice and mange require different active ingredients
Implement biosecurity measures to prevent reintroduction of ectoparasites through bought-in sheep