Winter presents specific welfare challenges for sheep, including nutritional stress, pregnancy toxaemia, and housing conditions that require careful management to prevent suffering.
Winter sheep welfare depends on accurate nutritional management and appropriate housing or outdoor conditions. Pregnancy toxaemia is a preventable welfare crisis - affected ewes die or lose their lambs due to energy deficit that skilled management can avoid through body condition scoring and targeted feeding. Housed sheep require adequate space (minimum 1.5m2 per ewe for lowland breeds) and ventilation to prevent respiratory disease. Outdoor sheep in wet conditions need adequate shelter from prevailing weather and supplementary feeding when pasture is depleted. Regular health checks during winter identify problems before they become welfare emergencies.