Sheep Lambing Losses and Neonatal Welfare

Neonatal lamb mortality rates of 10 to 20% represent millions of preventable deaths annually, with hypothermia and starvation being the primary causes in outdoor lambing systems.

Key Facts

Neonatal lamb mortality in extensive UK sheep systems averages 10 to 15% of all lambs born
Hypothermia is the leading cause of death in lambs born in cold wet conditions
Triplet lambs have significantly lower survival rates than singles and twins due to competition for colostrum
Ewes with poor mothering behavior fail to bond with lambs causing starvation deaths within 24 hours
Good stockmanship including timely intervention dramatically reduces lamb mortality rates

Welfare Considerations

Newborn lambs experiencing hypothermia pass through stages of progressive weakness, shivering, inability to stand, and loss of consciousness over hours. Without intervention, they die from cardiovascular collapse. The window for effective rewarming is narrow and requires attentive stockmanship. Starvation deaths from colostrum deprivation or poor bonding are similarly prolonged. These are preventable deaths through management attention, and the welfare case for improving neonatal survival is aligned with the economic interest of farmers in maximizing lamb crop.

What You Can Do

Support training programs for sheep farmers on neonatal lamb welfare and intervention techniques
Advocate for farm assurance requirements for neonatal mortality monitoring and management standards
Choose lamb from farms with documented low lamb mortality rates as a welfare indicator
Support research into predictors of ewe mothering ability and selection tools for improved bonding