Winter Housing Welfare for Hill Sheep

Traditional hill sheep breeds are hardy and often winter outdoors, but housing during severe weather prevents welfare compromise from extreme cold and nutritional depletion.

Key Facts

Hill sheep breeds including Scottish Blackface and Cheviot are adapted for upland outdoor wintering
Ewes in late pregnancy may require housing during severe weather to maintain body condition
Housing reduces energy expenditure on thermoregulation but increases disease transmission risk
Foot rot and pneumonia incidence is higher in housed sheep if management is inadequate
Nutritional support through housing in harsh winters reduces ewe mortality and lamb losses

Welfare Considerations

Winter housing welfare for hill sheep involves balancing the protection from cold and nutritional depletion against increased disease risk in housed conditions. Housed sheep require good ventilation to reduce respiratory disease, adequate space to maintain normal social behaviour, and appropriate nutrition for their production stage. Short-duration housing during extreme weather events, followed by return to pasture when conditions improve, achieves welfare protection without the disease accumulation risks of prolonged indoor housing.

What You Can Do

Support hill farming support schemes that include emergency housing provision
Advocate for hill farm support that recognises welfare costs of maintaining hardy breeding flocks
Donate to RSPCA and SSPCA emergency welfare response for hill flocks in severe weather
Choose lamb from certified high-welfare farms that maintain appropriate housing standards