Sheep are increasingly housed during late pregnancy and the early post-lambing period. Welfare standards for housed sheep — space allowances, ventilation and hygiene — significantly affect disease outcomes.
The housing of sheep in late pregnancy concentrates animals at a time of high physiological stress and creates conditions for rapid respiratory disease spread. Poor ventilation — typically due to solid walls blocking natural air movement — is the most commonly identified risk factor for pneumonia outbreaks. Adequate space, clean dry bedding and unrestricted airflow at ewe height (while preventing direct draught) are the primary welfare interventions. These also have strong economic justification through reduced treatment costs.