Sheep dairy is expanding globally, with specific welfare challenges around milking management, kid separation, and breed selection that require careful consideration.
Sheep dairy farming shares many welfare parallels with dairy cattle systems. The fundamental tension between milk yield optimization and natural mother-offspring bonding exists in both species. Early lamb separation causes acute distress in both ewes and lambs, and male lambs without commercial value may be killed or sold into lower-welfare systems. High-yielding dairy breeds may experience metabolic stress and mastitis pressure similar to high-production dairy cows. However, sheep dairy also has potential welfare advantages — smaller flock sizes, lower production pressures in some systems, and extensive grazing traditions in Mediterranean production regions. Welfare standards for sheep dairy are less developed than for cattle dairy, representing an opportunity for improvement alongside industry growth.