Farmed Animals

Outdoor Sheep Welfare Through Seasons

Year-round outdoor sheep farming provides natural behavior opportunities but requires management to prevent cold, wet, and parasite welfare problems.

Key Facts

Sheep can tolerate temperatures down to -5°C without shelter if dry and well-nourished
Newly shorn sheep lose thermal regulation capacity and need shelter for 2-3 weeks post-shearing
Internal parasites are the most common health problem in outdoor sheep
Foot rot spreads most rapidly in wet conditions at pasture

Welfare Considerations

Outdoor sheep management requires understanding seasonal welfare risks. Ewes near lambing need shelter from wet, cold conditions that can kill lambs within hours. Recently shorn sheep are highly vulnerable to hypothermia. Effective parasite monitoring and targeted treatment preserves the welfare benefits of outdoor grazing while managing the health risks that wet conditions create.

What You Can Do

Support sheep farms with documented seasonal welfare management protocols
Choose lamb from farms with lambing facilities that protect ewes and lambs from weather extremes
Advocate for welfare codes to specify minimum shelter requirements at lambing time
Support research into alternative parasite management that reduces reliance on anthelmintic treatments