Sheep Welfare in Extensive Farming Systems

Extensive sheep farming across upland and lowland Britain faces specific welfare challenges related to disease, predation, nutrition and extreme weather.

Key Facts

Britain has approximately 32 million sheep, predominantly in extensive systems
Flystrike (blowfly myiasis) causes one of the most severe welfare problems in UK sheep
Lameness affects 10-15% of sheep in most UK flocks and is substantially underdiagnosed
External parasites including ticks, lice and mites cause chronic welfare problems if uncontrolled
Ovine CIDR protocols now allow ewes to be synchronised for out-of-season breeding

Welfare Considerations

Extensive sheep welfare is often invisible: large flocks on remote hillsides cannot be checked daily, allowing welfare problems to persist undetected. Flystrike causes progressive tissue destruction over days before discovery. Footrot causes chronic lameness that impairs feeding and movement. Lambing complications can leave ewes in distress for hours. Investment in farmer training, appropriate monitoring technology and evidence-based flock health planning can dramatically reduce the welfare burden in extensive sheep systems without requiring intensive intervention.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes requiring minimum welfare monitoring standards for sheep flocks
Advocate for training requirements in sheep welfare for all flock managers
Choose lamb from farms with documented health plans and low lameness prevalence
Support research into precision monitoring tools that make extensive sheep welfare visible