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🐑 Sheep Indoor Housing Welfare

Why Sheep Are Housed

In the UK and Ireland, ewes are typically housed for 6–10 weeks before lambing (January–April depending on breed). Housing enables:

• Closer supervision of late pregnancy and lambing
• Protection from wet, cold conditions that increase hypothermia risk in newborn lambs
• Controlled nutrition in late pregnancy (critical for twin and triplet lambs)
• Management of footrot and other conditions requiring treatment

Key Welfare Risks in Indoor Housing

Respiratory Disease

Pneumonia is the leading cause of welfare harm and production loss in housed sheep. Housed ewes and particularly lambs are highly susceptible because:

• High animal density increases pathogen load (Pasteurella, Mycoplasma, viruses)
• Poor ventilation allows ammonia, dust, and aerosol droplets to accumulate
• Sheep conserve heat by clumping together — further concentrating pathogens
• Stress of housing and late pregnancy suppresses immunity

Good ventilation is the single most important factor in preventing respiratory disease. Buildings should have continuous ridge ventilation and inlet area at the eaves — "warm air in, cold air out" principle. Target: no draughts at animal level, but constant air movement above head height.

Foot Problems

Housed sheep stand on wet, contaminated bedding for extended periods. This softens hoof horn and creates conditions for footrot and foot scald. Management:

• Deep, dry bedding (straw, woodchip) maintained throughout housing period
• Regular mucking out — deep litter systems require addition of clean straw as bedding rises
• Pre-housing foot bathing and examination
• Regular inspection and treatment of lame sheep

Space and Overcrowding

Recommended space allowances (AHDB guidance):

• Dry ewes/early pregnancy: 1.2–1.5 m² per ewe
• Late pregnancy ewes: 1.5–1.8 m² per ewe
• Lambing pens (individual): 2.0 m² minimum

Overcrowding increases competition for food, lying space, and increases disease transmission. Under-space is a common welfare failure in housed sheep.

Feeding Management

Adequate trough space is critical — every sheep must be able to feed simultaneously or competition causes under-nutrition of subordinate individuals:

• Trough space: minimum 450 mm per ewe (more for horned breeds)
• Multiple feeding stations to reduce competition
• Ad lib hay available at all times alongside concentrate rations
• Individual ewe condition monitoring — thin ewes in group systems need identification and supplementary feeding

Lambing Pen Welfare

Individual lambing pens enable mother-lamb bonding but must be managed carefully:

• Move ewe and lamb to individual pen promptly after birth
• Keep in individual pen for minimum 24–48 hours to ensure bonding and colostrum intake
• Pens should be dry, draught-free, and have fresh bedding for each occupation
• Group ewes and lambs of similar age when moving out of individual pens