Effective sheep welfare assessment requires validated, practical indicators that farmers and inspectors can apply on-farm to identify and address welfare problems promptly.
Sheep welfare is often assessed indirectly through production metrics, but dedicated welfare indicators provide a more direct picture of animal experience. Lameness is the most visible and impactful welfare problem, affecting millions of sheep chronically. Regular walking surveys that score every animal enable early intervention. Body condition scoring identifies nutritional problems before they become severe. Building farmer skills in welfare assessment is one of the most scalable interventions available.