Livestock

Ewe Welfare During Pregnancy and Lambing

The final weeks of pregnancy and the lambing period are the most welfare-significant phases for ewes, with nutrition, housing, and stockmanship all critical factors.

Key Facts

Twin and triplet lambing ewes have dramatically higher nutritional requirements in late pregnancy
Pregnancy toxaemia affects ewes in poor body condition and causes serious suffering
Dystocia (difficult birth) is a leading cause of ewe and lamb mortality
Prolapse of the uterus or vagina is a painful complication of late pregnancy
Regular body condition scoring throughout pregnancy allows targeted nutritional management

Welfare Considerations

Ewes in poor body condition entering late pregnancy are at high risk of pregnancy toxaemia, a life-threatening metabolic disease. Difficult births without timely skilled assistance cause suffering to both ewe and lamb. Good stockmanship including body condition monitoring, appropriate nutrition, and 24-hour lambing supervision makes a substantial difference to ewe welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Support training programmes for sheep producers in lambing management
Advocate for stockmanship standards in farm assurance schemes
Choose lamb from farms with documented lambing welfare protocols
Encourage regular veterinary health planning for sheep flocks
Support research into reducing dystocia rates through breeding and management