Applying the Five Freedoms framework to sheep welfare identifies key areas for improvement in both extensive and intensive sheep production systems.
Sheep welfare assessment using the Five Freedoms reveals important gaps across production systems. Freedom from pain is frequently compromised by footrot, flystrike, and dystocia that go undetected in extensive systems with limited individual animal inspection. Freedom from fear is compromised by handling practices that exploit the prey animal flight response rather than working with calm, low-stress methods. Freedom to express normal behavior is most challenged in high-density indoor systems. Systematic Five Freedoms auditing provides a roadmap for improvement.