Livestock

Livestock Sheep Welfare in Cold and Wet Conditions

Sheep welfare in winter requires attention to shelter, nutrition, and condition monitoring.

Key Facts

Newly shorn sheep can die from exposure in cold, wet weather
Ewes in late pregnancy have high energy demands often not met by available forage
Foot rot prevalence increases in wet conditions
Body condition scoring should be done monthly to detect nutritional problems early

Welfare Considerations

Sheep exposed to cold and wet without adequate shelter experience hypothermia and death. Ewes in poor nutritional condition during late pregnancy produce weak lambs with high mortality rates. Foot rot causes chronic lameness pain. Winter welfare management requires systematic body condition assessment, appropriate nutrition supplementation, and provision of shelter from wind and rain.

What You Can Do

Support welfare standards requiring adequate winter shelter for sheep
Advocate for mandatory body condition scoring protocols
Choose lamb and wool from producers demonstrating good winter management
Donate to sheep welfare research organisations