Sheep Welfare in Extensive and Intensive Systems

Sheep are kept in both extensive pastoral and intensive systems globally, with welfare challenges ranging from predator attacks to surgical procedures without pain relief.

Key Facts

Around one billion sheep are kept globally for meat and wool production
Mulesing — cutting skin folds from Merino sheep to prevent flystrike — is practised widely in Australia
Tail docking of lambs is routine in many countries and often performed without anaesthesia
Fly strike affects millions of sheep annually in the UK, causing severe pain from maggot infestation
Sheep are prey animals that mask signs of pain and illness, making welfare assessment challenging
Shearing when performed well carries low welfare risk, but poor technique causes cuts and stress

Welfare Considerations

Sheep welfare challenges span both the surgical procedures they routinely undergo and the environmental and predation pressures of pastoral life. Pain relief during procedures including mulesing and tail docking remains inconsistently applied. Breeding for reduced skin folds in Merinos offers a path away from mulesing. Effective flystrike prevention through monitoring and treatment reduces a major source of suffering.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for mandatory pain relief during routine sheep procedures
Choose wool products from non-mulesed flocks where possible
Advocate for breeding programmes that reduce the need for mulesing in Merino sheep
Support research into effective flystrike prevention and treatment
Ask wool brands about their welfare standards including pain relief policies