Animal Health & Welfare

Ewes fed on a low nutritional plane or that lose large amounts of condition during pregnancy show reduced maternal behaviour immediately after the lamb is born.

These ewes are also less attached to their lambs in the days after birth. Thus their lambs are more likely to become separated from the ewe and have higher mortality.

In addition to the effects of nutrition on maternal behaviour, poor condition also affects milk yield and lamb growth and has effects on lamb behaviour.