Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Dental Welfare and Incisor Loss

Dental health significantly affects sheep welfare and productive longevity, with incisor loss a common cause of premature culling.

Key Facts

Sheep incisors are the primary grazing teeth and their loss significantly impairs feeding
Broken mouth (early incisor loss) is common in older sheep on hard pastures
Sheep with poor dentition lose body condition and may need early culling
Dietary supplementation and access to softer forage can support sheep with dental compromise
Dental disease in sheep is frequently overlooked as a welfare concern

Welfare Considerations

Dental welfare in sheep is a significant but underappreciated issue. Sheep with compromised dentition experience difficulty feeding and chronic undernutrition that could be managed with appropriate dietary support and monitoring.

What You Can Do

Support sheep farms with dental monitoring as part of regular health assessments
Advocate for dental welfare standards in sheep certification schemes
Choose wool and lamb from farms demonstrating attention to individual sheep welfare