Sheep Lambing Welfare: Neonatal Care and Mortality Prevention

The lambing period is critical for sheep welfare, with neonatal mortality rates in some systems reaching 15-20%. Understanding the welfare challenges of lambing helps farmers and advocates improve outcomes for both ewes and lambs.

Key Facts

Global sheep and lamb neonatal mortality rates average around 10-15% in commercial systems
Hypothermia is the leading cause of neonatal lamb death in temperate climates
Mismothering — rejection of lambs by ewes — is more common in high-intensity lambing systems
Dystocia (difficult birth) affects around 5% of lambings and can cause significant suffering
Ewes in the final weeks of pregnancy have very high nutritional requirements; malnutrition leads to twin lamb disease
Lambs born to well-nourished ewes in enriched environments show better survival and bonding
Pain relief for procedures like castration and tail docking significantly improves welfare outcomes
Some sheep breeds are selected for high litter sizes, increasing dystocia and mismothering rates

Welfare Considerations

Lambing represents a period of concentrated welfare risk for both ewes and lambs. Ewes experiencing difficult births suffer acute pain and can develop lasting physical damage. Rejected lambs face cold, hunger, and social deprivation. Neonatal lambs are highly vulnerable to hypothermia and require colostrum within the first hours of life. Good lambing management — adequate ewe nutrition, appropriate lambing facilities with shelter and warmth, prompt intervention for difficult births, pain relief for obstetric procedures, and monitoring for mismothering — can dramatically reduce both mortality and suffering. High-welfare lambing systems invest in infrastructure and stockmanship skills to minimize these risks.

What You Can Do

Support farms certified to higher welfare standards with good lambing management practices
Advocate for mandatory pain relief for surgical procedures performed on lambs
Learn about the welfare differences between intensive and extensive sheep farming systems
Support training programs for farmers on good lambing management and neonatal care
Choose lamb products from farms that invest in welfare during the lambing period
Engage with agricultural colleges and extension services promoting welfare-informed lambing practices