Sheep Welfare in High Country Farming

High country sheep farming in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK exposes sheep to extreme weather and limited veterinary access, creating distinct welfare challenges from lowland systems.

Key Facts

Approximately 6 million sheep are farmed on New Zealand high country stations above 600m
Hypothermia during lambing is the leading cause of lamb mortality in hill farming systems
Fly strike — blowfly larvae eating living tissue — affects 3-8% of ewes annually in wet regions
Mustering in high country may involve extended periods of stress and exhaustion
Merino sheep selectively bred for maximum wool growth can develop welfare problems from excessive fleece

Welfare Considerations

High country sheep welfare involves both acute seasonal crises (lambing hypothermia, fly strike in summer) and chronic issues from the remoteness that limits veterinary intervention. Ewes lambing in cold, wet conditions on exposed hillsides face significantly higher mortality than indoor-lambed counterparts. Fly strike — maggots eating living tissue — is extremely painful and progresses rapidly without detection in dispersed hill flocks. Improved monitoring through precision livestock technologies (GPS collars, electronic scanning) can detect welfare problems earlier. Reducing stocking density and matching sheep type to farm environment are structural welfare improvements.

What You Can Do

Support precision livestock monitoring technology development for hill farming welfare improvement
Advocate for mulesing-free merino wool certifications as a minimum standard
Choose ZQ or Responsible Wool Standard certified merino products
Support farmer transition programs to welfare-positive high country management systems
Donate to organizations developing fly strike prevention alternatives to mulesing