Dairy sheep production is a growing sector globally. The welfare of ewes under milking systems, lamb separation, and health management reflects species-specific needs distinct from cattle dairy welfare.
Dairy sheep welfare shares many features with dairy cattle welfare but is shaped by ovine-specific behaviour and physiology. The flock social motivation of sheep means management that disrupts stable group composition causes significant stress — individual housing, health pen isolation, and repeated group mixing should be minimised. Lamb separation — universal in dairy sheep systems — causes vocalisation distress in both ewes and lambs comparable to cattle systems; extended nursing or nurse-ewe systems represent welfare improvements adopted by some producers. Mastitis welfare in sheep is particularly significant because ewes with painful udders reduce their time at feeders and water troughs, creating secondary nutritional welfare problems. Milking parlour design that allows normal sheep social proximity reduces stress during the twice-daily milking event. Outdoor access — where climate and management allow — enables expression of grazing, locomotion, and social behaviour that significantly improves positive welfare outcomes for ewes in lactation.