Sheep Welfare: Weaning Stress Management
Weaning — the separation of lambs from their mothers — causes acute distress for both parties. Understanding and managing weaning stress is important for welfare, as the period of vocalisation, searching behaviour, and physiological stress response represents a genuine welfare challenge that can be ameliorated by good management.
Behavioural and Physiological Stress Responses
Both ewes and lambs vocalise extensively for 24-72 hours after separation. Lambs show increased activity, pacing, and fence-walking as they search for their mothers. Ewes show similar searching behaviour, particularly in the first 24 hours. Cortisol levels spike dramatically at separation and remain elevated for several days.
The intensity of the stress response is influenced by the strength of the ewe-lamb bond (stronger bonds = more intense separation stress), the abruptness of separation, and the age and weight of lambs at weaning.
Gradual vs Abrupt Weaning
Gradual weaning strategies reduce acute stress response. Two-stage weaning — brief daily separations before complete separation — reduces vocalisation and activity compared to abrupt weaning. Fence-line weaning (where ewes and lambs can see and smell each other but cannot nurse) reduces distress compared to complete visual separation, with lambs showing faster adaptation to independence.
Where production systems allow, later weaning (longer suckling period) can allow more natural social separation. Older, heavier lambs at weaning show faster behavioural recovery than younger, lighter lambs.
Nutritional Support Around Weaning
Lambs must transition from milk-based nutrition to solid feed at weaning. Ensuring lambs are competent ruminants (eating grass or concentrate confidently) before weaning reduces nutritional stress. Provision of high-quality, palatable feed immediately post-weaning maintains intake during the transition period. Access to creep feed pre-weaning facilitates smoother transition.
Ewes should be "drying off" — reducing milk production — by the time of weaning. Restricting ewe feed in the days before weaning reduces milk supply, making separation less physically uncomfortable for the ewe's udder.
Environmental Factors
Providing complex, enriched environments for newly weaned lambs — adequate social groups, environmental features to explore, foraging opportunities — can reduce the behavioural expression of separation stress. Social housing with familiar group-mates (rather than mixing unfamiliar lambs at weaning) reduces combined weaning and social stress.