Sheep Lambing Welfare and Shepherd Practice

Lambing season is a critical welfare period for both ewes and newborn lambs, with farmer skill and shepherd intensity determining outcomes for millions of sheep births each year across UK farms.

Key Facts

UK sheep farmers produce approximately 15 million lambs annually with most births occurring between January and April
Skilled shepherding during lambing dramatically reduces mortality from mis-presentation, hypothermia, and starvation
Abandonment of lambs by ewes is more common in high-stress environments and creates acute welfare problems
Twin and triplet pregnancies increase risk of metabolic disease in ewes and competition for milk among lambs
Good lambing welfare requires round-the-clock monitoring and intervention capability during peak birth periods

Welfare Considerations

Lambing welfare depends almost entirely on shepherd skill, dedication, and availability during the intensive lambing period. Well-managed lambing systems provide individual jugging pens for ewes with newborns to bond safely, prompt intervention for difficult births, colostrum supplementation for weak lambs, and heating facilities for hypothermic newborns. Lambs that are mismothered, rejected, or hypothermic without intervention suffer severely and often die. The welfare of both ewes and lambs during lambing is directly proportional to the time and skill invested by the stockperson.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certification schemes that verify lambing management standards on sheep farms
Choose lamb products from farms demonstrating skilled shepherding and low lambing mortality rates
Learn about lambing welfare to engage meaningfully with discussions about sheep farming practice
Appreciate the intensive labor commitment of sheep farmers during the lambing period
Support agricultural education programs that train skilled shepherds in welfare-focused lambing practice