Lamb Pneumonia: Welfare Emergency in the First Weeks of Life

Pneumonia is a leading cause of lamb mortality after birth, causing significant acute suffering that requires prompt recognition and treatment.

Key Facts

Pneumonia is responsible for a substantial proportion of lamb deaths in the first 4 weeks of life
Causal agents include Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, and Mycoplasma species
Risk factors include inadequate colostrum intake, housing and ventilation deficiencies, and chilling
Early clinical signs include rapid breathing, nasal discharge, and depression
Treatment with antibiotics and NSAIDs in the first 24 hours dramatically improves outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Lamb pneumonia causes significant acute suffering: fever, laboured breathing, and the distress of respiratory compromise are clearly visible in affected lambs. The acute deterioration in untreated pneumonia means lambs can die within 24-48 hours of developing clinical signs. Treatment initiated within the first 24 hours of clinical signs using appropriate antibiotics combined with anti-inflammatory medication gives the best welfare outcomes. However, many lambs are not identified early because observation frequency is insufficient to detect the first signs of illness. The welfare imperative of frequent observation during the neonatal period — at least twice daily for all lambs — allows early identification and treatment that prevents both the suffering of progressive disease and unnecessary death.

What You Can Do

Ensure lambs receive adequate colostrum in the first 6 hours of life to protect against respiratory disease
Observe all neonatal lambs at least twice daily for early respiratory disease signs
Treat affected lambs with both antibiotic and NSAID therapy promptly on identifying clinical signs
Review housing ventilation and stocking density as primary risk factors for lamb pneumonia outbreaks