Intensive Farming

Sheep Housing Winter Welfare

Overwintered sheep in indoor housing require specific management of space, ventilation, and nutrition for welfare.

Key Facts

Inadequately ventilated sheep housing causes respiratory disease outbreaks
Overcrowded housing increases disease transmission and welfare compromise
Pregnant ewes in late gestation require increased space and nutrition
Regular monitoring of housed sheep enables early disease detection

Welfare Considerations

Sheep housed indoors during winter face welfare risks from respiratory disease in poorly ventilated housing, competition for feed space in overcrowded groups, and inadequate nutrition during late pregnancy. Good winter housing management with appropriate ventilation, sufficient space per animal, and nutrition management prevents the majority of welfare problems that peak during the housing period.

What You Can Do

Support farms with appropriate winter housing welfare standards
Advocate for indoor housing welfare requirements in sheep welfare regulations
Buy from farms with documented housing welfare audit programs
Back research into winter housing design optimizing sheep welfare