Sheep Lambing Welfare: Supporting Ewes and Lambs Through Birth

Lambing is the most welfare-intensive period in sheep farming, with ewes and lambs both facing significant welfare risks from difficult births, exposure, starvation, and disease that require skilled stockperson intervention.

Key Facts

UK sheep produce approximately 13-15 million lambs annually, with significant mortality before weaning
Dystocia (difficult birth) requires prompt intervention; delayed assistance leads to death of lambs and welfare harm to ewes
Hypothermia is the most common cause of lamb death, particularly in cold, wet weather
Twin and triplet lambs face competition for colostrum, requiring stockperson monitoring and intervention
Neonatal mismothering - ewes rejecting their lambs - causes welfare harm requiring foster management

Welfare Considerations

Lambing is a period of intense welfare challenge. Ewes in prolonged dystocia suffer pain and exhaustion; lambs born after prolonged obstruction may have suffered oxygen deprivation. Hypothermic lambs experience dangerous core temperature loss within hours of birth in cold conditions. Starvation from failure to obtain colostrum causes rapid deterioration. The stockperson's vigilance, knowledge, and willingness to intervene promptly are the primary determinants of lambing welfare outcomes. High lambing management quality dramatically reduces mortality and suffering; inadequate supervision leaves welfare harms that skilled management would prevent.

What You Can Do

Support sheep farming standards that require adequate lambing supervision and stockperson training
Choose lamb from farms with documented lambing management protocols and mortality monitoring
Advocate for lambing welfare to be assessed in farm assurance inspections
Support organisations providing training to sheep farmers in lambing management
Engage with the National Sheep Association's resources on lambing welfare improvement