The neonatal period is the highest risk period for lamb welfare and survival. Good management in the first hours after birth dramatically reduces lamb mortality and suffering.
Neonatal lamb welfare requires intensive management attention during the lambing period. Lambs that do not receive adequate colostrum within the first 6 hours fail to absorb immunoglobulins and have severely compromised immune function, leading to early death from infection. Hypothermia causes suffering and death that is almost always preventable with adequate shelter, bedding, and attentive shepherding. Mismothered lambs that are rejected by their mothers face starvation unless identified quickly. Twice-daily lambing checks in mild weather and continuous monitoring in cold conditions represent the welfare baseline. Each lamb death represents preventable suffering.