Intensive Farming

Sheep Lameness Welfare Burden

Lameness is one of the most prevalent welfare problems in sheep, yet it remains systematically under-recognized and under-treated.

Key Facts

Lameness affects 3-10% of ewes in most flocks at any one time
Under-recognition means most lame sheep receive no treatment
Regular mobility scoring increases detection and treatment rates significantly
Footrot and foot scald are the most common causes and respond well to prompt treatment

Welfare Considerations

Lame sheep experience chronic pain from footrot, foot scald, or white line disease that progressively worsens without treatment. Their prey-animal behavior means they continue to appear to function normally while experiencing significant pain. Flocks without routine mobility scoring programs have lameness prevalences 2-3 times higher than those with regular assessment. Early treatment reduces both suffering duration and treatment cost.

What You Can Do

Support farms with regular sheep mobility scoring programs
Advocate for lameness monitoring requirements in sheep welfare standards
Learn to identify lameness in sheep if you work with livestock
Buy lamb from farms with documented lameness control programs