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🐑 Sheep Weaning Welfare

The Weaning Transition

Weaning in sheep involves abrupt separation of lambs from their mothers, severing a bond that has developed from birth. In natural conditions, sheep wean gradually over several months as ewes gradually reduce milk production. Commercial production typically involves abrupt weaning at 10–16 weeks, creating an acute stress response in both ewes and lambs.

Welfare Indicators During Weaning

Both ewes and lambs show clear stress responses at weaning:

• Intense vocalisation (bleating) for 24–48 hours post-separation
• Elevated plasma cortisol levels (stress hormone) for up to 72 hours
• Reduced feed intake and weight gain in lambs for 1–2 weeks post-weaning
• Increased restlessness and fence-walking
• Ewes show mammary discomfort as milk production ceases
• Immunosuppression during the transition increases disease susceptibility

Factors Affecting Weaning Stress

Age at Weaning

Older lambs at weaning show less acute distress. Lambs weaned at 12+ weeks are better able to cope than those weaned earlier. Early weaning (8 weeks or less) carries higher welfare costs and should be avoided unless there are compelling health or management reasons.

Abrupt vs Gradual Weaning

Two-stage weaning — where ewes and lambs are separated into adjacent fields with fence contact maintained for several days before full separation — significantly reduces vocalisation and cortisol response compared to abrupt separation. This approach acknowledges the psychological component of maternal bond breaking.

Social Group Management

Keeping lambs in established social groups at weaning (rather than remixing) reduces the combined stressors of social disruption and maternal separation. Lambs weaned with familiar pen-mates show reduced cortisol responses compared to those remixed into unfamiliar groups.

Environmental Familiarity

Weaning lambs onto familiar pasture rather than moving them to a new location at the same time as separation reduces the cumulative stress of multiple simultaneous changes.

Practical Weaning Strategies

Timing

• Wean at minimum 10–12 weeks, ideally 12–16 weeks
• Avoid weaning during periods of heat stress, heavy rain, or other environmental stressors
• Time weaning to allow ewes adequate recovery before next mating season
• Avoid weaning lambs and ewes on the same day as other stressful procedures (dosing, marking)

Two-Stage Weaning Protocol

1. Separate ewes and lambs into adjacent fields with good fence-line visibility and contact
2. Maintain this partial separation for 4–7 days
3. Complete separation: move ewes to a location out of earshot of lambs
4. Monitor both groups for 48 hours after complete separation

Ewe Welfare at Weaning

Ewe welfare at weaning is often overlooked. Ewes producing significant milk at weaning experience discomfort as the udder engorges. Management:

• Restrict ewes to low-quality grazing for 2–3 days post-weaning to reduce milk production
• Avoid milking or stimulation of the udder — this prolongs milk production
• Monitor for mastitis: check udder at 48–72 hours post-weaning
• Dry ewe vaccination against mastitis if indicated by herd history

Post-Weaning Lamb Management

The post-weaning period is a vulnerable time for lambs. Priorities include:

• Ensure access to high-quality pasture or supplementary feed to compensate for lost milk nutrition
• Maintain anthelmintic protection — worm burdens increase in stressed, immunosuppressed lambs
• Monitor closely for respiratory disease, which commonly follows the immunosuppression of weaning stress
• Provide shelter from adverse weather