Sheep have remarkable social memory and emotional intelligence. Understanding their cognitive complexity challenges assumptions about sheep as simple, passive animals.
The social complexity of sheep means that management practices involving social disruption — sudden group changes, isolation, or high-density mixing of unfamiliar individuals — cause genuine stress and welfare harm. Live transport, which frequently involves mixing unfamiliar animals, is particularly problematic. Sheep that are isolated from the flock show elevated stress hormones and abnormal behaviours. Welfare-conscious management respects sheep social bonds and minimises unnecessary disruption to established groups.