The first hours of a lamb's life are critical for welfare and survival, with husbandry decisions during this period having lasting consequences.
Newborn lambs are highly vulnerable to cold, wet conditions and dependent on colostrum for both nutrition and immunity. The welfare of lambs in their first days determines their resilience for the rest of their lives. Good lambing management that ensures warmth, colostrum access, and maternal bonding dramatically improves welfare outcomes while reducing mortality that represents both welfare failure and economic loss.