Sheep are intelligent social animals raised primarily for wool and meat. Welfare standards in the wool industry range from very poor to exemplary, and consumers increasingly seek transparency about production practices.
Welfare concerns in sheep production include mulesing, live export, shearing injuries, and transport stress. The Five Freedoms framework applied to sheep farming reveals chronic welfare deficits in intensive systems. Consumer demand for certified humane wool has driven improvements in some producing countries, demonstrating the effectiveness of market-based welfare advocacy.