Comprehensive sheep welfare assessment integrates production records, clinical observation, and behavioural welfare measures; standardised auditing enables benchmarking and improvement tracking.
Sheep welfare assessment has historically received less investment than dairy cattle welfare assessment despite comparable animal numbers and welfare challenges. Validated assessment frameworks now exist that enable systematic welfare monitoring across key indicators. The challenge is uptake — integrating welfare assessment into routine flock management rather than treating it as an external audit event. Farms that routinely monitor and record welfare indicators consistently identify problems earlier and achieve better welfare outcomes than those relying on subjective assessment.