Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Respiratory Disease Welfare

Respiratory disease in sheep causes significant welfare harm and is a leading cause of mortality, particularly in housed or transported animals.

Key Facts

Pneumonia affects sheep of all ages and is most severe in lambs and recently weaned animals
Pasteurella and Mycoplasma species are among the most common bacterial causes
Transport stress and mixing are major precipitating factors for respiratory outbreaks
Vaccination against Pasteurella haemolytica provides significant protection
Early recognition of dyspnea, fever, and nasal discharge enables timely treatment

Welfare Considerations

Respiratory disease causes significant pain, breathlessness, and distress in affected sheep. Proactive vaccination, stress reduction at transport and mixing, and rapid treatment of clinical cases are the foundations of humane respiratory disease management in sheep flocks.

What You Can Do

Support sheep farms using respiratory vaccination programs
Advocate for transport welfare standards that reduce respiratory disease risk
Choose lamb and wool from farms with documented respiratory health management