Sheep Welfare During Lambing Season

Lambing is the most welfare-intensive period in sheep farming, with significant risks for ewes and lambs that good stockmanship can substantially reduce.

Key Facts

Dystocia (difficult birth) is a leading cause of ewe and lamb mortality in sheep farming
Hypothermia kills many lambs within hours of birth, especially in upland environments
Orphan lambs require intensive management and bonding support
Lameness in ewes worsens during pregnancy due to increased bodyweight
Shepherd skill and observation frequency are the most important welfare factors at lambing

Welfare Considerations

Lambing welfare depends fundamentally on the quality of stockpersonship. Ewes with difficult births may labor for hours before receiving assistance, causing exhaustion, distress, and potentially fatal uterine infection. Lambs not dried, warmed, and fed colostrum within hours of birth face rapid death from hypothermia and hypoglycemia. Frequent checking of ewes, particularly at night during peak lambing, is the most effective welfare intervention. Training farmers in recognizing and assisting difficult births reduces mortality and suffering significantly.

What You Can Do

Support training programs that improve farmer lambing skills and observation capacity
Advocate for welfare standards that specify minimum checking frequencies during lambing
Choose lamb products from farms with documented low lamb mortality rates
Support research into practical tools that help farmers identify and assist ewes in difficulty