UK sheep industry shares welfare progress report at NSA Sheep Event

A review of progress of the UK Sheep Welfare Strategy will be launched at NSA Sheep Event, sharing key successes achieved since it was published in 2023.

The strategy is the result of collaborative working group to help demonstrate evidence-based progress in sheep welfare, encouraging continued adoption of best practice across the industry.

The UK Sheep Welfare Strategy was developed through Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W) with input from farmers, vets, organisations including the National Sheep Association (NSA) and industry professionals from across the sheep sector.

Key progress made against the goals of the strategy will be discussed by NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker, Sheep Veterinary Society (SVS) President Phillipa Page, and Gloucestershire sheep farmer Kevin Harrison at the event on 28th July at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire. 

Chair of the RHW group Gwyn Jones explains that the review is a timely way to show how progress is being made against the six strategic goals.

“With good progress being made against the goals, this review allows us to pinpoint where momentum is building, what challenges remain and where greater attention is now required.

“There are clear areas of progress, supported by strong initiatives and growing collaboration across the sector, which demonstrate what can be achieved when farmers, industry bodies and stakeholders work towards a shared vision.”

Phillipa Page, Sheep Vet Society (SVS) president shares the key successes highlighted in the report. She says: “This report highlights the progress that is being delivered across many areas of the sheep sector by those committed to sheep health, welfare and profitability. I welcome the opportunity in this report to show that vets, farmers, advisors and industry are working together with common goals and delivering real results.”

Phil Stocker adds: “By continuing to work together across the industry, we can demonstrate the positive steps being taken on farm and keep building confidence in the high welfare standards achieved by UK sheep producers."

The strategy was launched in 2023 to create a six-step delivery plan for better sheep welfare, supported by an industry working group which represents stakeholders from across the sheep sector. Progress is monitored and reported to help ensure transparency and encourage continued improvement.

More than 95 organisations and businesses have supported and fed into the strategy, demonstrating widespread backing for a shared approach to improving sheep welfare.

Following a presentation at NSA Sheep Event the review of progress will be made available online the Ruminant Health & Welfare website on 28th July.

Members of the press and other interested parties are invited to join representatives from the RH&W group at 12 noon on Tuesday, 28th July, on the NSA stand for the report launch when there will be a short presentation detailing some key messages from the updated report, followed by an opportunity for Q&A.

The 2023-2028 strategy focuses on six priority areas. They are:

• Healthy feet. Aiming to reduce lameness to improve mobility, productivity and longevity.
• Appropriate body condition. Maintaining optimum body condition to improve resilience, fertility and lamb rearing performance.
• Thriving lambs. Ensuring lambs are born strong and continue to thrive through good nutrition and disease prevention.
• Collaborative flock management. Strengthening collaboration between farmers, vets and advisers through effective flock health planning.
• Positive welfare. Encouraging management decisions that prioritise sheep welfare throughout the production cycle.
• Sheep comfort. Promoting proactive pain management to improve comfort and recovery from disease, illness and injury.