Indoor Housing Welfare for Sheep
Many sheep systems house ewes indoors in the pre-lambing period and at lambing. While indoor housing provides management advantages and protection from severe weather, it introduces welfare risks — respiratory disease, foot problems, increased social tension, and nutritional challenges that require proactive management.
Space Requirements
Adequate space is the foundation of good housed ewe welfare. Minimum recommended floor space: 1.0-1.5 m² per ewe for loose housing, depending on ewe size and stage of pregnancy. Ewes carrying multiple foetuses need more space due to their greater size. Insufficient space increases competition, aggression, feeding stress, and respiratory disease risk.
Lying patterns provide a practical welfare check — sheep should be able to lie comfortably in a natural position without disturbing or being disturbed by neighbours. If ewes cannot lie without contact with adjacent animals, space is insufficient.
Ventilation in Sheep Housing
Sheep produce significant respiratory moisture and are highly susceptible to respiratory disease when housed in poorly ventilated conditions. The critical balance is preventing draughts (particularly at sheep level) while ensuring adequate air movement to remove humidity and ammonia. Open-sided buildings with Yorkshire boarding (spaced horizontal planks allowing air movement without creating directed draught) are well-suited to British climates.
Monitoring humidity (above 80% indicates inadequate ventilation) and ammonia (above 20 ppm causes mucosal damage) provides objective assessment of ventilation adequacy. Visible breath condensation in large quantities, persistent damp bedding, or high pneumonia incidence all indicate ventilation problems.
Foot Health in Housed Sheep
Wet, soiled bedding softens hoof horn and predisposes to footrot and interdigital dermatitis. Regular bedding provision (minimum 2-3 times weekly, or as needed to maintain dry surface), prompt removal of heavily soiled areas, and foot bathing help control foot disease. Housed sheep should be checked for foot problems — lameness is both painful and reduces feeding activity, compounding welfare problems.
Social Management
Grouping ewes by litter size (singles, twins, triplets) allows targeted feeding and reduces competition between animals of different nutritional requirements. Stable groups minimise aggression — avoid mixing during the housing period where possible. Providing sufficient feeding space (minimum 450 mm per ewe) and multiple water points reduces competition-related welfare problems.