Farm Animal Welfare

Farm Animal Welfare: Sheep Pneumonia Prevention

Respiratory disease is one of the most significant welfare and production problems in sheep, with pasteurellosis and enzootic pneumonia being major causes.

Key Facts

Pneumonia causes chronic suffering and is a major cause of death in growing lambs
Risk factors include housing overcrowding, poor ventilation, and mixing of age groups
Pasteurella vaccination is effective and widely used in intensive lamb finishing systems
Prompt antibiotic treatment reduces welfare harm but antibiotic stewardship is essential
Improved ventilation design is the most cost-effective prevention measure

Welfare Considerations

Pneumonia causes acute respiratory distress, fever, reduced feed intake, and chronic debilitation in affected sheep. Subclinical infection causing reduced growth with persistent discomfort is common. Prevention through vaccination, good housing design, and biosecure management significantly reduces the welfare burden of respiratory disease across the flock.

What You Can Do

Support producers with vaccination programmes and good housing ventilation
Choose lamb products from certified welfare-assured farms
Advocate for housing design standards addressing respiratory disease risk