Sheep dairy farming is a growing sector whose welfare standards deserve the same scrutiny as cow or goat dairy, with specific concerns around lamb separation and milking management.
Sheep dairy welfare is largely invisible in public discussions that focus on cow and goat dairy. The separation of lambs from dairy ewes causes the same acute maternal and offspring distress as in cattle dairy systems. The welfare of lambs from dairy systems that have no economic value for meat production and no use for milk presents a particular challenge. High-producing dairy breeds managed for maximum milk output face metabolic pressures and udder health challenges analogous to high-yield dairy cattle. The absence of sheep dairy-specific welfare assessments and standards means these issues receive no systematic monitoring despite the growing commercial significance of the sector.