Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Musculoskeletal Pain Recognition and Treatment

Musculoskeletal pain from lameness and arthritis is common in sheep but frequently undertreated due to poor pain recognition and limited veterinary access.

Key Facts

Lameness affects up to 10% of ewes in many flocks
Footrot, foot scald, and white line disease are the most common causes
NSAID treatment significantly improves welfare outcomes in acute lameness
Sheep show pain through posture and gait changes that require training to recognise
Chronic arthritis particularly in older breeding stock is often undertreated

Welfare Considerations

Musculoskeletal pain is one of the most prevalent welfare problems in sheep and is frequently left untreated due to poor pain recognition, cost constraints, and limited veterinary access in some regions. Training farm staff to recognise pain and ensuring access to effective analgesia would significantly reduce the burden of suffering from musculoskeletal disease in sheep.

What You Can Do

Support training programmes for sheep pain recognition
Advocate for affordable NSAID access for sheep farmers
Share pain recognition resources with sheep producers