Sheep are traditionally managed in extensive outdoor systems, but housing during late pregnancy, lambing, and periods of adverse weather is common in the UK and other temperate regions. Housing welfare depends critically on building design, management quality, and attention to sheep-specific behavioural and physiological needs.
Housing can benefit sheep welfare by: providing shelter from severe weather (reducing thermal stress, hypothermia risk, and nutritional demands), enabling closer monitoring during lambing (earlier detection of dystocia, hypothermic lambs, mismothering), facilitating nutritional management of late-pregnant ewes (particularly those carrying multiples at high risk of pregnancy toxaemia), reducing blowfly strike risk in summer, and improving biosecurity during disease outbreaks.
Sheep are susceptible to respiratory disease (pasteurellosis, enzootic pneumonia) in poorly ventilated buildings. High ammonia from urine decomposition, moisture from respiration, and dust from feed and bedding create respiratory hazards. Natural ventilation buildings with open ridges, Yorkshire boarding (horizontal slats allowing air movement), or space boarding on upper walls allow air exchange while protecting from rain. Minimum recommended ventilation rates are 4 air changes per hour for housed sheep. Consulting a building designer with sheep housing expertise prevents costly mistakes.
Adequate space is essential for normal behaviour and welfare. Minimum recommended space allowances: 1.2-1.5m² per adult ewe (larger breeds at higher end); 1.8-2m² for ewes with lambs at foot; individual lambing pens 1.4m × 1.2m minimum. Insufficient space prevents resting, limits access to feed and water, increases aggression, and compromises welfare. Social facilitation of feeding (sheep preferring to eat simultaneously) requires adequate feed trough length—minimum 45cm per ewe.
Deep, dry straw bedding is essential for sheep welfare in housed systems. Wet bedding leads to footrot and foot scald, fleece damage, hypothermia in lambs, and mastitis. Bedding management requires regular topping up (not just replacement), assessment of moisture levels, and complete removal and replacement at regular intervals. Lime application on damp bedding controls bacterial populations and improves welfare outcomes.
Lambing pen design affects welfare of ewes, lambs, and stockpeople. Individual lambing pens (minimum 1.4m Ă— 1.2m) allow undisturbed bonding and facilitate colostrum management. Adequate lighting, access for stockpeople, lamb warming facilities (heat lamps, warming boxes for hypothermic lambs), colostrum storage (frozen reserves), stomach tubes and milk replacer should all be available. Lambing management protocols ensuring lambs receive adequate colostrum within 2 hours are fundamental to lamb welfare.
The transition from winter housing to spring turnout requires management attention. Sudden diet change from hay/silage to lush spring grass can cause metabolic problems. Gradual introduction to pasture reduces digestive upset. Feet should be checked and trimmed before turnout, with footbathing for foot disease management. Ewes with lambs at foot need careful management to prevent lamb losses to weather on turnout, particularly in hill systems where snow can occur late into spring.