Sheep Welfare in Extreme Weather

Sheep face acute welfare challenges during extreme weather including heat waves, heavy snowfall, and flooding, requiring proactive management to prevent suffering and mortality.

Key Facts

Sheep with full fleeces are vulnerable to heat stress in temperatures above 30C especially at high humidity
Hypothermia in neonatal lambs is the leading cause of lamb mortality during cold, wet weather
Flooding can trap sheep and cause drowning or extended hypothermia if not rescued promptly
Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events that challenge sheep welfare management

Welfare Considerations

Extreme weather welfare failures in sheep are often preventable through adequate shelter, monitoring, and responsive management. Neonatal hypothermia during lambing requires either indoor lambing or intensive outdoor monitoring with intervention capacity. Heat stress during summer requires shade, water, and potentially shearing timing adjustments. Climate change is increasing the welfare management burden for sheep farmers.

What You Can Do

Support sheep welfare certification standards that include extreme weather management requirements
Advocate for climate adaptation funding that supports livestock shelter and management infrastructure
Choose lamb and wool products from farms with documented weather management protocols
Support research into sheep resilience to extreme weather conditions for breeding improvement
Donate to welfare organizations providing emergency response guidance during extreme weather events affecting livestock