Farm Animals

Sheep Pregnancy Scanning and Welfare

Ultrasound pregnancy scanning in sheep allows targeted nutrition management and litter size preparation, significantly improving both ewe and lamb welfare.

Key Facts

Pregnancy scanning can identify single, twin, and triplet pregnancies from 45 days
Triplet-bearing ewes have significantly higher nutritional requirements
Targeted feeding based on pregnancy status reduces pregnancy toxaemia incidence
Scanning at 70-90 days of gestation provides the best accuracy
Approximately 30% of UK sheep flocks are pregnancy scanned

Welfare Considerations

Pregnancy toxaemia in unscanned ewes, particularly those carrying multiples, causes significant suffering and mortality. Targeted nutrition based on scanning results is a highly cost-effective welfare intervention. Identifying and culling ewes in poor condition before scanning also prevents suffering associated with late pregnancy ill thrift.

What You Can Do

Support pregnancy scanning as a routine management tool in sheep enterprises
Advocate for scanning in welfare standards for sheep production
Choose lamb products from farms with documented nutritional management practices