Lambing is one of the most intensive periods in sheep farming. Welfare depends on stockmanship, shelter, nutrition, and rapid intervention when difficulties arise.
An ewe struggling with a difficult birth that is not assisted suffers prolonged pain and exhaustion. Lambs born into cold wet conditions without shelter die of hypothermia within hours. Adequate colostrum access within 2 hours is a binary welfare event — miss it and the lamb faces almost certain death from disease. Good lambing welfare requires 24-hour monitoring, adequate shelter, and trained stockpersons.