Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Lambing: Welfare at Peak Vulnerability

The lambing period is one of the most welfare-significant times in the sheep farming calendar, with high mortality risk and significant demands on both ewes and lambs.

Key Facts

Lamb mortality rates of 10-20% are common in many UK flocks
Hypothermia and starvation are leading causes of lamb death
Dystocia (difficult birth) causes significant pain and requires intervention
Ewes can experience significant stress and pain during prolonged labour
Colostrum intake in the first hours is critical for lamb survival

Welfare Considerations

Lambing concentrates welfare challenges into a short period: ewes experience the physical demands of pregnancy and birth while lambs are maximally vulnerable. Good lambing welfare requires trained shepherds able to assist effectively, shelter from weather extremes, nutritional support for ewes, and prompt intervention for struggling lambs. Stockmanship quality makes an enormous difference to welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Support sheep welfare organizations providing farmer training
Choose lamb from farms with documented low mortality rates
Advocate for lambing welfare training to be part of sheep farmer certification
Donate to agricultural colleges offering sheep welfare programs