Dairy sheep production for cheese and yogurt is growing globally, with distinct welfare challenges around milking, lamb separation, and breed-specific health problems.
Dairy sheep welfare parallels dairy cattle in key respects: the fundamental conflict between high milk yield genetics and maternal separation causes suffering for both ewes and lambs. Ewes vocalise and search for lambs for days after separation; lambs show acute distress responses. Breed selection for extreme milk production also creates susceptibility to mastitis and metabolic disorders. Extensive grazing conditions improve welfare in many respects, but do not resolve the separation issue or the fate of surplus male lambs who are often killed shortly after birth.