Lambing Season Welfare: Dystocia and Neonatal Mortality

Lambing is one of the highest welfare-risk periods in sheep production; dystocia, hypothermia, and mismothering cause significant suffering that good shepherding practice can prevent.

Key Facts

Neonatal lamb mortality ranges from 10-30% in UK flocks, with most losses occurring in the first 48 hours
Dystocia without intervention can cause death of dam and lamb after hours of distress
Hypothermia in wet newborn lambs develops rapidly in cold weather
Adequate colostrum consumption in the first 6 hours of life is critical for lamb survival

Welfare Considerations

Lambing represents a concentrated period of welfare vulnerability requiring high-intensity supervision and skilled intervention. Dystocia (difficult birth) causes suffering proportional to its duration and severity; prompt skilled intervention dramatically improves outcomes for both ewe and lamb. Neonatal hypothermia can be rapidly corrected with warming and colostrum, but requires vigilant monitoring. Investment in lambing facilities, staffing, and training is directly proportional to welfare outcomes during this critical period.

What You Can Do

Support farmers investing in adequate lambing facilities and staffing ratios
Advocate for lambing mortality reporting as a standard welfare indicator
Raise awareness that neonatal lamb mortality is largely preventable with good husbandry