Nutrition and Welfare in Sheep: Getting the Balance Right

Nutritional management is central to sheep welfare. Deficiencies and imbalances cause disease, suffering, and reduced productivity. Evidence-based feeding practices make a major difference.

Key Facts

Sheep are ruminants requiring adequate fibre, protein, energy, and micronutrients at different life stages
Pregnancy toxaemia (twin lamb disease) is one of the most common and preventable welfare problems in ewes
Cobalt deficiency causes pine disease in lambs, leading to wasting, weakness, and death
Selenium deficiency causes white muscle disease, a painful and often fatal muscular disorder in young lambs
Copper toxicity is also a serious risk; sheep are highly sensitive and can be fatally poisoned by supplements designed for cattle
Pasture assessment and body condition scoring are essential tools for optimising nutrition across the flock
Overfat ewes face increased lambing difficulties; thin ewes produce less colostrum and poorer-quality milk
Trace element supplementation should be based on blood or liver testing rather than blanket treatment

Welfare Considerations

Nutritional disease causes enormous and largely preventable suffering in sheep flocks worldwide. Many of the most serious welfare problems affecting sheep -- pregnancy toxaemia, white muscle disease, pine, and footrot -- have strong nutritional components that can be addressed through better management. The challenge is that nutritional needs vary markedly by breed, physiological stage, season, and pasture quality, requiring farmers to apply knowledge and conduct monitoring rather than applying generic practices. Routine body condition scoring allows early identification of nutritional problems before clinical disease develops. Access to high-quality veterinary and agricultural extension support is a critical enabling factor, particularly for smaller or less well-resourced producers. Improving nutritional management is one of the most cost-effective investments in sheep welfare available.

What You Can Do

Learn to body condition score sheep or support farmers who do so routinely
Advocate for accessible veterinary and agricultural extension services in sheep farming communities
Support welfare standards that include nutritional management requirements for sheep flocks
Encourage trace element testing before supplementation to avoid both deficiency and toxicity
Choose lamb and wool from producers who demonstrate good nutritional management practices
Support research into cost-effective nutritional monitoring tools for sheep farmers
Learn about the seasonal nutritional demands of ewes in pregnancy and lactation