Sheep Winter Housing and Welfare Management

Winter housing of sheep protects them from harsh weather but creates welfare challenges from overcrowding, respiratory disease and increased parasite transmission in housed systems.

Key Facts

Pneumonia is the second most common cause of sheep death in the UK, exacerbated by poor housing ventilation
Housed sheep are at higher risk of internal parasite transmission in inadequate space conditions
Footrot and foot scald spread rapidly in wet housing conditions, causing lameness in significant proportions of flocks
Ewes require approximately 1.2 square meters of lying space for adequate rest in housed conditions
Natural feeding behaviors are compromised in housed sheep without appropriate trough access for all animals

Welfare Considerations

Winter housing protects sheep from hypothermia, flooding and the energy costs of cold weather while allowing closer monitoring during the critical lambing period. However, housing creates its own welfare challenges. Respiratory disease spreads rapidly in poorly ventilated buildings. Parasites accumulate in housing. Lameness from wet floors and footrot increases. Social hierarchies in overcrowded conditions prevent subordinate sheep from accessing feed and rest. Good housing welfare requires adequate space, excellent ventilation, appropriate bedding, and management of the stocking density and feed access that determines whether the welfare benefits of housing outweigh the costs.

What You Can Do

Support farms investing in housing improvements including ventilation systems and adequate lying space
Advocate for housing welfare standards to include space allowances, ventilation and biosecurity requirements
Choose lamb and wool from farms with documented housing welfare protocols
Support training programs for sheep farmers on housing welfare management