Scottish SPCA

Farmer fined £1,000 for fly-strike lambs

The Scottish SPCA has welcome a £1,000 fine imposed on a Dumfriesshire farmer who caused unnecessary suffering to four of his lambs.

Colin McLeish, 48, admitted failing to provide adequate vet treatment for the four Suffolk cross lambs in August 2010. They were all suffering from extensive fly strike and two of the lambs had to be put to sleep.

We launched an investigation after receiving a report of dead and dying sheep at his farm at Woodlandsbanks, Hightae, near Lockerbie.

Inspector Arianne Harkness said, "Upon inspection four lambs were found that had extensive fly strike, two of which were lying lifeless and unable to stand with large bald patches on their rear ends.

"One of the lambs when examined by a vet was found to have a 7cm diameter lesion where the skin had split exposing fat and muscle layers below.

"Although the four lambs had all received treatment by the farmer, this was deemed to have been inadequate and 'too little too late'.

"Good stockmanship and timely and adequate treatment could have prevented this situation."

Fly-strike is a common condition in sheep particularly when grazing is plentiful and the weather mild and wet. It occurs when flies lay their eggs on the fleece of the sheep which has usually been contaminated with faeces, urine and or bacterial infection. When the larvae (maggots) hatch, they secrete an enzyme which liquefies the fleece and flesh of the animal, which if not treated rapidly, can lead to toxaemia and death. Treatment involves application of insecticide to the affected area after clipping away any soiled and infested fleece to expose the wound. Struck animals need to be regularly monitored.

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