Welfare of Sheep During Lambing | Animal Welfare Hub

The lambing period is critical for sheep and lamb welfare — losses and suffering are largely preventable.

Key Facts

UK sheep farms lose an estimated 3.5 million lambs each year to welfare-related causes
Hypothermia is the leading cause of lamb death — largely preventable with adequate shelter
Mismothering — ewes rejecting lambs — occurs more frequently in intensive systems
Preparation and monitoring during lambing significantly reduces lamb mortality and suffering

Welfare Considerations

Lambing is both the most critical welfare period in the sheep year and one where significant preventable suffering occurs. Hypothermia, starvation from mismothering, and birth complications cause millions of lamb deaths annually. Many of these are preventable through adequate shelter, attentive monitoring, and skilled intervention. Intensive lambing systems that concentrate births in short periods create monitoring challenges. Free-range and outdoor lambing systems with adequate shelter can achieve lower mortality rates when properly managed.

What You Can Do

Support welfare standards requiring adequate lambing shelter and monitoring
Choose lamb products from farms with documented low mortality rates
Advocate for lambing management training requirements in sheep farming
Engage with the welfare dimension of sheep farming in food system discussions