Sheep Lambing Welfare and Stockperson Care

Lambing is the most labour-intensive and welfare-critical period in sheep farming, with stockperson competence having an enormous effect on lamb and ewe survival and welfare.

Key Facts

The UK produces approximately 15 million lambs annually, with lambing occurring mainly February-April
Neonatal lamb mortality averages 15-20%, with the majority occurring in the first 72 hours
Hypothermia is the most common cause of neonatal lamb death and is largely preventable
Dystocia (difficult birth) causes significant pain in ewes and requires skilled intervention
Triplet and quadruplet lambs face significantly higher welfare risks due to competition for colostrum
Mismothering (ewe rejecting her lamb) causes acute distress and requires prompt stockperson intervention

Welfare Considerations

Lambing concentrates welfare risks for both ewes and lambs into a short, intense period. The welfare outcomes - lamb survival, ewe recovery, bonding success - depend heavily on stockperson skill, vigilance, and intervention timing. Ewes in difficult labour need prompt, skilled assistance to prevent prolonged suffering. Hypothermic lambs need warming and colostrum within hours of birth. The scale of preventable neonatal mortality and suffering in UK lambing makes stockperson training investment one of the highest-leverage welfare interventions available in sheep farming.

What You Can Do

Support farming standards that require lambing competency assessments for stockpersons
Advocate for reduced ewe-to-stockperson ratios during intensive lambing periods
Choose British lamb from farms with documented lambing welfare protocols
Support Moredun Research Institute and similar organisations developing lambing welfare guidance
Engage with the evidence on indoor versus outdoor lambing welfare trade-offs