Lambing season is a critical welfare period for sheep. Good stockmanship and appropriate intervention significantly reduce suffering for both ewes and lambs.
Lambing represents a welfare-critical period in which skilled observation and timely intervention can prevent significant suffering and save lives. Ewes experiencing dystocia — prolonged, obstructed labour — suffer intense pain and, without assistance, face death. Lambs born in poor conditions face hypothermia, starvation if they cannot find the teat, and predation. The welfare burden during lambing season is substantial even on well-managed farms, and poor preparation or insufficient staffing creates preventable suffering. Analgesic use for ewes experiencing difficult births remains inconsistently practised despite clear evidence that pain management speeds recovery and improves welfare. Good lambing welfare requires experienced staff, appropriate shelter, and adequate equipment for emergency intervention.