Farm Animal Welfare

Farm Sheep: Neonatal Hypothermia Prevention

Hypothermia is the leading cause of lamb mortality in the first 24 hours of life, and prevention requires a combination of ewe management, environment, and stockperson vigilance.

Key Facts

Hypothermia occurs when a lamb's core temperature falls below 37 degrees Celsius
Wet lambs lose heat approximately five times faster than dry ones in cold conditions
Colostrum intake is critical for thermogenesis in the first hours of life
Tube feeding with colostrum and warming in a warming box are first-line treatments
Twins and triplets and lambs from thin ewes are at greatest risk of hypothermia

Welfare Considerations

Hypothermic lambs are in acute distress and will die without intervention within hours. Prolonged hypothermia is a significant welfare harm. Prevention through shelter, dry bedding, and ewe body condition management reduces incidence. Rapid identification through regular observation and prompt warming and feeding treatment prevents many welfare-significant deaths.

What You Can Do

Check all ewes and lambs at least every two to three hours during peak lambing
Provide sheltered, well-bedded lambing areas protected from cold and wind
Ensure all lambs receive adequate colostrum within two hours of birth
Maintain a warming box and tube feeding equipment in the lambing area
Train all staff to recognise signs of hypothermia and administer treatment