Sheep Welfare in Extensive and Intensive Systems

Sheep are kept under enormously varied conditions globally, from high-welfare extensive mountain grazing to intensive indoor production, with welfare outcomes varying accordingly.

Key Facts

Approximately 1.2 billion sheep are farmed globally, primarily for meat and wool
Sheep are highly social animals that maintain stable group hierarchies and suffer from isolation
Flystrike — blowfly larvae infesting wounds — is one of the most severe welfare problems in sheep
Mulesing, the surgical removal of wool-bearing skin around the breech, is controversial and painful
Extensive grazing systems allow natural behavior expression but present challenges for individual welfare monitoring

Welfare Considerations

Sheep welfare varies dramatically with production system and management quality. Extensive systems on natural pasture can provide good welfare for basic needs while presenting challenges for individual health monitoring. Intensive indoor systems may facilitate monitoring but restrict natural behaviors. The most significant welfare issues across systems include flystrike, foot rot, mulesing without pain relief, and inadequate parasite management. Building consumer understanding of sheep welfare enables market incentives for improvement.

What You Can Do

Choose wool products from non-mulesed sources or certified pain-relief mulesing programs
Advocate for mandatory pain relief in all ovine husbandry procedures
Support research into flystrike-resistant sheep genetics and management
Engage with wool brands about their sourcing standards and mulesing policies
Reduce wool consumption or choose alternative natural fibers from higher-welfare sources