Sheep Lambing Welfare: Neonatal Care and Mortality

Lambing season is a critical welfare period for both ewes and lambs, with preventable mortality and suffering common in intensive and extensive systems.

Key Facts

UK lamb mortality within the first week is estimated at 15-20% of all lambs born
Hypothermia is the leading cause of lamb mortality in outdoor systems
Mismothering — ewes rejecting lambs — affects 5-10% of births
Dystocia (difficult birth) causes pain and risk to both ewe and lamb
Indoor lambing reduces environmental mortality but increases infectious disease risk

Welfare Considerations

Neonatal lambs are highly vulnerable to cold, wet, and wind in outdoor systems. Poorly timed lambing relative to pasture availability increases starvation risk. Hypothermia causes progressive organ failure. Mismothered lambs die slowly from starvation and cold. Dystocia causes prolonged pain and trauma to ewes. Inadequate colostrum management leads to failure of passive immune transfer, causing infections. Good lambing management dramatically reduces both mortality and suffering.

What You Can Do

Support Moredun Research Institute and AHDB guidance on lambing management
Advocate for lambing mortality as a key welfare indicator in farm assurance schemes
Choose lamb from farms with documented low mortality rates
Support research into genetic selection for ease of lambing and good maternal behaviour
Engage with the sheep industry on adopting evidence-based lambing welfare standards