Sheep Welfare: Body Condition Scoring and Management

Sheep Welfare: Body Condition Scoring and Management - evidence-based welfare information and practical guidance.

Key Facts

Animal welfare on farms is shaped by housing, management, nutrition, health, and stockperson quality
The Five Domains model assesses nutrition, environment, health, behaviour, and mental state
Scientific welfare monitoring enables continuous improvement in farm systems
Consumer purchasing decisions incentivise welfare improvements through market signals
Welfare improvements often reduce antibiotic use and improve production outcomes
Stockperson skill is among the most important determinants of farm animal welfare

Welfare Considerations

Farm animal welfare requires ongoing attention to both physical and psychological needs of animals. Evidence-based assessment tools allow objective measurement of welfare outcomes, enabling targeted improvement. The alignment between good welfare management and farm economics is stronger than often assumed, making the case for welfare improvement accessible to producers across different systems.

What You Can Do

Choose higher welfare certified products where available
Support organisations working on farm animal welfare policy and research
Advocate for strong welfare legislation with effective enforcement
Learn about farm animal welfare and share that knowledge with others