Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Neonatal Lamb Hypothermia Prevention

Hypothermia is the leading cause of lamb death in the first 24 hours of life, representing a major welfare and production challenge.

Key Facts

Lambs have very limited brown fat reserves compared to many other neonates
Wet lambs in cold or windy conditions can reach hypothermic temperature within 30 minutes of birth
Early colostrum intake provides both nutrition and passive immune transfer critical to survival
Heat lamps, warming boxes, and drying of newborns are effective first-line interventions
Nutritional preparation of the ewe during late pregnancy influences lamb birth weight and vigour

Welfare Considerations

Neonatal lamb hypothermia represents a welfare emergency that is both common and largely preventable. The suffering of a hypothermic lamb - weakness, tremors, coma - is significant. Effective prevention requires preparation, vigilance, and rapid response. Investment in lambing supervision resources and stockmanship training directly translates into reduced individual lamb suffering.

What You Can Do

Support sheep farming practices that prioritise neonatal lamb supervision and intervention
Advocate for lambing welfare standards to include neonatal hypothermia prevention in farm assurance
Learn about neonatal lamb welfare as part of farm animal advocacy and awareness