what is a sheep ked
Melophagus ovinus, or the sheep ked, is a brown, hairy fly that resembles a tick. This wingless fly is about 4 to 6 mm long and has a small head; it is a fly from the family Hippoboscidae. They are blood-feeding parasites of sheep.
Sheep keds are wingless, reddish brown biting flies that resemble, and are sometimes called, ticks. They use piercing- sucking mouthparts to feed on blood. Although sheep are the primary host but keds may feed on goats. This irritation makes the animals restless. Consequently, growth and weight gain, especially of lambs, can be reduced. Scratching to relieve the itching at feeding sites may damage wool quality.