Sheep Pregnancy and Lambing Welfare

Pregnancy and lambing are critical welfare periods for sheep, with significant preventable welfare problems from nutritional management to dystocia.

Key Facts

Twin lamb disease (pregnancy toxemia) causes significant mortality in underfed late-pregnancy ewes
Dystocia (difficult birth) affects approximately 5% of ewes annually in UK flocks
Mismothering and lamb abandonment cause significant welfare problems in intensive lambing systems
Hypothermia kills more lambs in the UK than any other cause
Well-managed lambing systems significantly reduce mortality and welfare problems in both ewes and lambs

Welfare Considerations

Sheep lambing welfare involves both the pregnant ewe's welfare during late pregnancy and the welfare of lambs in their first hours of life. Pregnancy toxemia - caused by inadequate energy intake during the final weeks of pregnancy - is a preventable welfare emergency that causes severe suffering and death in affected ewes. Lambing difficulties requiring assistance cause pain and stress that appropriate stockmanship can minimize. Newborn lamb welfare depends critically on colostrum intake within the first hours of life - lambs that miss this window face severely compromised immune function and welfare throughout their lives.

What You Can Do

Support farmer training in lambing management and dystocia assistance
Advocate for nutritional management standards in late pregnancy sheep welfare guidelines
Choose lamb from farms with documented lambing welfare management
Support research into lambing welfare indicators and early intervention protocols
Donate to farm animal welfare organizations providing farmer welfare education