Sheep Farming

Sheep Respiratory Disease and Housing Welfare

Respiratory disease in housed sheep causes significant welfare costs that can be reduced through ventilation management and housing design.

Key Facts

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (Jaagsiekte) is an infectious sheep lung tumour
Sheep pneumonia from Pasteurella and Mycoplasma causes significant production losses
Overcrowding and poor ventilation increase respiratory pathogen load
Natural ventilation designs achieve good air quality in cold climates without fans
Biosecurity to prevent introduction of respiratory pathogens is the best control measure

Welfare Considerations

Respiratory disease causes breathlessness, fever, and chronic discomfort that significantly impairs sheep welfare and performance. Inadequate ventilation in housed sheep creates the conditions for disease spread and progression. Investing in good housing design - including adequate airspace and natural ventilation - prevents respiratory disease more cost-effectively than treating it.

What You Can Do

Support sheep welfare assurance schemes with housing and ventilation standards
Advocate for housing design requirements in sheep welfare guidelines
Choose lamb from farms with documented low respiratory disease rates