Sheep Neonatal Hypothermia: Prevention and Treatment in the First Hours of Life

Hypothermia is a leading cause of lamb mortality in the first 24 hours of life. Rapid recognition and rewarming, combined with ensuring colostrum intake, save lives and prevent suffering.

Key Facts

Neonatal hypothermia is responsible for approximately 20-30% of lamb deaths in the first 24 hours, making it one of the most significant preventable causes of pre-weaning mortality in sheep
Lambs are born wet and lose heat rapidly — particularly in cold, wet, or windy conditions — and have limited ability to generate heat until they have consumed colostrum and their rumen fermentation begins
Three stages of hypothermia are recognised in lambs: mild (rectal temperature 37-39°C, standing, alert), moderate (37-39°C, unable to stand), and severe (below 37°C, comatose)
Treatment differs by severity and age: mild hypothermia responds to drying and shelter; moderate requires additional heat (warming box); severe requires intraperitoneal glucose injection in lambs under 5 hours old and warming box management
Intraperitoneal dextrose injection (50 ml of 20% glucose) is a critical intervention for severely hypothermic lambs under 5 hours old — providing directly available energy when the lamb cannot absorb oral glucose
Lambs over 5 hours old with severe hypothermia must be warmed before receiving intraperitoneal glucose, as persistent hypoglycaemia from peritonitis can cause death if glucose is given cold
Colostrum intake (at least 50 ml/kg bodyweight in the first 6 hours) prevents recurrent hypothermia by fuelling thermogenesis and providing passive immunity

Welfare Considerations

Neonatal hypothermia is a welfare emergency: a cold, hypoglycaemic lamb is conscious but progressively weakening, unable to suckle, and at increasing risk of death from cardiovascular collapse. The suffering involved — progressive weakness, inability to stand or feed, cold distress — is real and preventable in the majority of cases with good stockperson vigilance during lambing. The economic and welfare argument for monitoring lambing closely — particularly in cold, wet weather — is overwhelming. Farmers who check ewes regularly during lambing, identify struggling lambs early, and have warming equipment and colostrum available prevent substantial suffering at relatively low cost. Systematic protocols for hypothermia recognition and treatment are as important as the physical equipment.

What You Can Do

Increase lambing check frequency in cold, wet, or windy conditions when hypothermia risk is highest
Maintain a warming box and stock colostrum (fresh-frozen ewes colostrum or commercial supplement) for emergency use during lambing
Learn the three stages of hypothermia and the specific treatment protocols for each age and severity combination
Train all lambing staff in intraperitoneal glucose injection technique for severely hypothermic young lambs
Ensure sheltered, dry lambing areas that reduce wind chill and maintain ambient temperature for newborns
Record hypothermia cases during the lambing season to identify weather conditions and ewe management factors driving high incidence
Support farm animal welfare training programmes that include neonatal lamb care as a core competency