Sheep Hypothermia: Neonatal Lamb Welfare

Hypothermia is the leading cause of death in newborn lambs worldwide. Prevention and rapid treatment dramatically reduce suffering and mortality.

Key Facts

Neonatal hypothermia causes up to 50% of all lamb deaths in some flocks during cold lambing seasons
Lambs are born wet and vulnerable — body temperature can fall dangerously within minutes in cold, wet conditions
Hypothermic lambs show progressive weakness, inability to suck, and eventual coma
Three levels of hypothermia are recognized clinically, requiring different interventions
Warming boxes (40°C) can rapidly reverse mild-moderate hypothermia within 1-2 hours
Colostrum deprivation combined with cold significantly increases mortality risk

Welfare Considerations

Hypothermic lambs suffer distress and organ damage that begins rapidly in cold conditions. Early recognition by shepherds is critical — a lamb that cannot stand or suck within 1-2 hours of birth needs immediate intervention. Providing sheltered lambing areas, warming boxes, stomach tubing colostrum, and glucose injections for severe cases dramatically reduces suffering. High-welfare lambing operations have lamb mortality rates below 5%, while poorly managed systems may lose 20-30% of lambs to preventable causes including hypothermia.

What You Can Do

Farmers should provide sheltered lambing areas and monitor ewes closely during cold, wet weather
Keep warming boxes, colostrum supplies, and stomach tubes available at lambing time
Train all lambing staff to recognize and treat the three stages of hypothermia
Support sheep welfare codes that mandate appropriate lambing facilities and monitoring