Intensively housed sheep face welfare challenges distinct from outdoor systems. Understanding these helps target interventions for lambing, nutrition, and behaviour.
Indoor housing for sheep, when well-managed, can protect animals from harsh weather and predators and allow close monitoring at lambing. However, poor housing design, overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, and insufficient space all create significant welfare problems. Foot health deteriorates rapidly in wet conditions. Respiratory disease spreads quickly in poorly ventilated barns. Welfare audits should focus on space per animal, ventilation quality, cleanliness, and stockperson skill in detecting early disease signs.