Defra Sheep Welfare

8/10/2019 Defra Sheep Welfare

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Sheep

Code of Recommendations forthe Welfare of Livestock


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Code ofRecommendations

for the Welfare ofLivestock: Sheep


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Note

This Code, comprising paragraphs 1 to 138, whichhas been prepared following consultation, is issuedwith the authority of Parliament pursuant to Section3 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act1968.

These recommendations have been notified to theEuropean Commission in accordance with Directive83/189/EEC (1983 O.J. L109/8, as amended).

Section 3 of the Agriculture (MiscellaneousProvisions) Act 1968 allows the Ministers toproduce codes of recommendations for the welfareof livestock and to issue such codes once they havebeen approved in draft by both Houses of

Parliament. However, the original definition of theMinisters (see Section 50 of the 1968 Act) hasbeen changed to reflect devolution for Scotlandand Wales. In relation to England, the powers ofthe Ministers were transferred to the Secretary ofState for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs bythe Transfer of Functions (Agriculture and Food)Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/3141).

(In relation to Scotland, the powers of the Ministershad previously been transferred to the Scottish

Ministers by Section 53 of the Scotland Act 1998(1998 c.46) and, in relation to Wales, the powers ofthe Ministers had previously been transferred to theNational Assembly for Wales by article 2(a) of theNational Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions)Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/672)).


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Page Paragraphs

Preface 2

Introduction 5 1 - 5

Stockmanship 6 6 - 12

Feed & water 7 13 - 19

Health 8 20 - 41General 8 20 - 24Inspection 9 25Condition scoring 9 26Lameness 9 27 - 31External parasites 10 32Internal parasites 10 33Casualties 10 34 - 39Dosing & vaccination equipment 11 40 - 41

Management 12 42 - 66General 12 42 - 43Marking 12 44 - 45Handling 12 46 - 49Fencing & hedges 12 50 - 51Shearing 13 52 - 57Castration 13 58 - 61Tail docking 14 62 - 63

Tooth grinding 14 64Electro-immobilisation, vasectomy & electro-ejaculation 14 65Dehorning or disbudding 14 66

Breeding techniques 15 67 - 71

Contents

Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock: Sheep


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Pregnancy & lambing 16 72 - 87

Artificial rearing 18 88 - 97

Housing 19 98 - 123General 19 98 - 102Ventilation 19 103

Buildings & equipment 20 104 - 113Lighting 20 114 - 115Space allowances 21 116Mechanical equipment & services 22 117 - 119Fire & other emergency precautions 22 120 - 123

Hazards 23 124 - 128

Milk sheep 24 129 - 138Management 24 129 - 133Milking practices 24 134 - 136Milking parlours & equipment 24 137 - 138

Appendix

Useful publications 25Further information 26

Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock: Sheep


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Regulation 10 of the Welfare of Farmed Animals(England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000 No. 1870)provides that:

Any person who employs or engages a person to

attend to animals shall ensure that the personattending to the animals:

- is acquainted with the provisions of all relevantstatutory welfare codes relating to the animalsbeing attended to;

- has access to a copy of those codes while he isattending to the animals; and

- has received instruction and guidance on thosecodes.

Any person who keeps animals, or who causes orknowingly permits animals to be kept, shall notattend to them unless he has access to all relevantstatutory welfare codes relating to the animalswhile he is attending to them, and is acquaintedwith the provisions of those codes.

In Regulation 2 it states that statutory welfarecode means a code for the time being issuedunder Section 3 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous

Provisions) Act 1968.To cause unnecessary pain or unnecessary distressto any livestock on agricultural land is an offenceunder Section 1(1) of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous

Provisions) Act 1968. The breach of a code provision,whilst not an offence in itself, can nevertheless beused in evidence as tending to establish the guiltof anyone accused of causing the offence ofcausing unnecessary pain or distress under theAct (Section 3(4)).

Regulation 3(1) of the Welfare of Farmed Animals(England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000 No. 1870)states that owners and keepers of animals shalltake all reasonable steps:

- to ensure the welfare of the animals undertheir care; and

- to ensure that the animals are not causedany unnecessary pain, suffering or injury.

Regulation 3(3) of the Welfare of Farmed Animals(England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000 No. 1870)states that:

- In deciding whether the conditions under whichanimals are being bred or kept comply with therequirements set out in Schedule 1 of theRegulations, the owner and keeper of the animalsshall have regard to their species, and to theirdegree of development, adaptation anddomestication, and to their physiological andethological needs in accordance with establishedexperience and scientific knowledge.

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PrefaceThis preface is not part of the Code but is intended to explain its purpose and toindicate the broad considerations upon which it is based. Similarly, the legislationquoted in boxes throughout the document is not part of the Code but isintended to highlight some of the legal requirements. The law, as quoted in theseboxes, is that in force on the date of publication or reprinting of the Code (please

turn to the back cover for this information). Readers should be aware that any ofthe legal requirements quoted might be subject to change - they should seekconfirmation before assuming that these are an accurate statement of the lawcurrently in force.


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Regulation 11 of the Welfare of Farmed Animals(England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000 No. 1870)states that:

- Where an authorised person considers thatanimals are being kept in a way which is likely tocause unnecessary pain, suffering or injury, or inany other way in contravention of any provisionof these Regulations, he may serve a notice on theperson appearing to him to be in charge of theanimals requiring that person, within the periodstated in the notice, to take any action that theauthorised person considers to be reasonablynecessary to ensure compliance with theseRegulations and the authorised person shall givehis reasons for requiring that action to be taken.

Regulation 13(2) of the Welfare of Farmed Animals

(England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000 No. 1870)states that:

- In any proceedings against an owner or keeper ofanimals for a failure to comply with Regulation 3(1)or 3(2), the owner or keeper as the case may be,may rely on his compliance with any relevantrecommendation contained in a statutory welfarecode as tending to establish his compliance withthe relevant Regulation.

The Code is intended to encourage all those whocare for farm animals to adopt the highest standardsof husbandry. Without good stockmanship, animalwelfare can never be adequately protected.Adherence to these recommendations will helpstock-keepers to reach the required standard.

The welfare of sheep is considered within aframework, elaborated by the Farm Animal WelfareCouncil, and known as the Five Freedoms. Theseform a logical basis for the assessment of welfare

within any system, together with the actionsnecessary to safeguard welfare within theconstraints of an efficient livestock industry.

The Five Freedoms are:

1. freedom from hunger and thirst- by ready access to fresh water and a dietto maintain full health and vigour;

2. freedom from discomfort- by providing an appropriate environmentincluding shelter and a comfortable restingarea;

3. freedom from pain, injury or disease- by prevention or rapid diagnosis andtreatment;

4. freedom to express normal behaviour- by providing sufficient space, properfacilities and company of the animalsown kind;

5. freedom from fear and distress- by ensuring conditions and treatment toavoid mental suffering.

In acknowledging these freedoms, those who have

care of livestock should practise: caring and responsible planning and management;

skilled, knowledgeable and conscientiousstockmanship;

appropriate environmental design (for example,of the husbandry system);

considerate handling and transport;

humane slaughter.


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The Protection of Animals Acts 1911-2000 containthe general law relating to cruelty to animals.Broadly it is an offence (under Section 1 of the1911 Act) to be cruel to any domestic or captiveanimal by anything that is done or omitted to bedone.

Section 12(2) of the 1911 Act empowers a policeconstable to place, in safe custody, animals inthe charge of persons apprehended for an offenceunder the Act until the end of proceedings orthe court orders the return of the animals.The reasonable costs involved, including anynecessary veterinary treatment, are recoverableby the police from the owner upon conviction.

Under Section 1 of the Protection of Animals(Amendment) Act 1954, as amended by the 1988Act, the court has the power to disqualify a personconvicted under these Acts from having custody ofany animal. The ban can specify a particular kind ofanimal or all animals for such period as the courtthinks fit.

This Code applies in England only and has beenissued by the Secretary of State for Environment,Food and Rural Affairs (following approval in draftby both Houses of Parliament). It replaces (also as

regards England only) the existing Code, whichwas issued in 1990.

Similar Codes are being produced in Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland. Until these new Codesare issued, the existing Code will continue to applyin Scotland and Wales. Separate arrangementsexist in Northern Ireland.

THIS WELFARE CODE WAS ISSUED ON14th AUGUST 2000.

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1 In this Code (which applies in England only)the word sheep refers to all ovine stock, andan animal under six months of age isconsidered to be a lamb.

2 The recommendations are relevant to sheepunder all husbandry systems. Following them will

help to ensure that the welfare of stock issafeguarded.

3 The number and type of sheep kept and thestocking rate and/or housing density should dependon the suitability of the environment, the capacityof the farm, the competence of the shepherd andthe time available to carry out his or her duties.Good stockmanship is of paramount importance inall systems of sheep production.

4 The relevant animal welfare legislation appliesto owners as well as to any person looking aftersheep on their behalf, wherever the sheep arelocated. A written contract can be of value inensuring that all parties are clear about theirresponsibilities in respect of welfare. However,the obligations imposed by law will still apply.

5 If any change in breed or type is contemplated,particularly if farming in difficult, extensive

conditions, replacement should only be with abreed or type of sheep that is suitable for thelocation. For example, on hill farms, sheep shouldbe sufficiently hardy and not prone to suffer as aresult of extremes of climate.

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Introduction


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Schedule 1, paragraph 1 of the Welfare of FarmedAnimals (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000 No.1870) states that:

- Animals shall be cared for by a sufficient numberof staff who possess the appropriate ability,knowledge and professional competence.

6 The most significant single influence on thewelfare of any flock is the shepherd, who shoulddevelop and carry out an effective routine forcontinuing care.

7 All shepherds should be aware of the welfareneeds of their sheep and be capable ofsafeguarding them under all foreseeable conditionsbefore being given responsibility for a flock. Thisrequires the acquisition of specific stockmanship

skills. These may be developed on-farm, workingwith an experienced person, or by following acourse offered by a suitable training organisation.Wherever possible, the training should be of a typewhich leads to formal recognition of competence.

8 Shepherds should know the signs of good healthin sheep. These include general alertness, freemovement, active feeding and rumination, andabsence of lameness, visible wounds, abscesses orinjuries.

9 Shepherds should also know the signs whichindicate ill health in sheep. These includelistlessness, abnormal posture and behaviour,lameness, scouring, absence of cudding, persistentcoughing or panting, scratching and frequentrubbing, rapid loss of body condition, excessivewool loss, sudden fall in milk yield and, in somecircumstances, being apart from the flock.

10 The capabilities of the shepherd or shepherds incharge of the sheep are a significant factor indetermining the size of a flock. The flock sizeshould not be increased, nor should a unit be setup, unless the shepherds have the skills necessary to

safeguard the welfare of every animal in theircharge.

11 It is important for a farmer to ensure thatenough time is available within the shepherdsnormal work routine for the flock to be properlyinspected and for any necessary remedial action to

be taken.

12 It may be necessary to engage extra help suchas experienced, competent contractors to provideextra assistance during busy periods such aslambing, shearing, routine dipping and otherdisease prevention treatments; or when regular staffare unavailable due to holiday or sickness.

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Schedule 1, paragraphs 2227 of the Welfare ofFarmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I.2000 No.1870), state that:

- Animals shall be fed a wholesome diet which isappropriate to their age and species and which isfed to them in sufficient quantity to maintain themin good health, to satisfy their nutritional needs andto promote a positive state of well-being.

- No animals shall be provided with food or liquid ina manner, nor shall such food or liquid contain anysubstance, which may cause them unnecessarysuffering or injury.

- All animals shall have access to feed at intervalsappropriate to their physiological needs (and, in anycase, at least once a day), except where a veterinarysurgeon acting in the exercise of his profession

otherwise directs.- All animals shall either have access to a suitablewater supply and be provided with an adequatesupply of fresh drinking water each day or be ableto satisfy their fluid intake needs by other means.

- Feeding and watering equipment shall bedesigned, constructed, placed and maintained sothat contamination of food and water and theharmful effects of competition between animals areminimised.

- No other substance, with the exception of thosegiven for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes orfor the purpose of zootechnical treatment shall beadministered to animals unless it has beendemonstrated by scientific studies of animal welfareor established experience that the effect of thatsubstance is not detrimental to the health orwelfare of the animals.

13 The law requires that sheep should have access

to suitable feed in sufficient quantity and sufficientfresh, clean water each day. Ideally, water should beavailable at all times and most particularly duringlactation. It is not acceptable to rely on the watercontent of feedstuffs, including roots.

14 The law requires that the diet of sheep shouldalways be adequate to maintain full health andvigour. Sudden changes in the type and quantity offeed should be avoided.

15 Sheep should be provided with fresh feed, andany which is stale or contaminated should be

removed from troughs before more is added. Feedshould be palatable and of good quality. It isespecially important to dispose of silage which hasdeteriorated in storage or in the feed trough.

16 Systems involving the use of high intakes ofcereal-based diets require a gradual introductoryfeeding period, during which sufficient roughage ora suitable high-fibre concentrate should also be fed.Care should be taken to prevent individual sheepfrom gorging by ensuring that there is plenty oftrough space available to the flock. In such systems,mineral mixtures should be specifically designed toavoid urinary problems in male animals.

17 Certain substances, in particular copper, can beharmful to sheep. Compound feeds or mineralpreparations which have been prepared for otherspecies should be avoided unless the compositioncan be assessed as suitable for sheep. Shepherdsshould be aware of breed variations in susceptibility

to copper poisoning.

18 Sheep farmers and shepherds should considerthe state of the flocks dentition when culling.Sheep with poor teeth should preferably be culled.If the sheep are to be retained, they should beprovided with food which they can eat withoutdifficulty and their body condition should becarefully monitored.

19 Arrangements should be made in advance toensure that adequate supplies of suitable feed andwater can be made available to sheep inemergencies, such as severe winter storms orsummer drought.

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Feed & water


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General

Schedule 1, paragraph 2 of the Welfare of FarmedAnimals (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000No.1870) requires that:

- All animals kept in husbandry systems in which

their welfare depends on frequent human attentionshall be thoroughly inspected at least once a day tocheck that they are in a state of well-being; and

- Animals kept in systems other than husbandrysystems in which their welfare depends on frequenthuman attention shall be inspected at intervalssufficient to avoid any suffering.

Schedule 1, paragraph 5 states that any animalswhich appear to be ill or injured:

- shall be cared for appropriately without delay; and- where they do not respond to such care,veterinary advice shall be obtained as soon aspossible.

Schedule 1, paragraph 7 of the Welfare of FarmedAnimals (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000No.1870) states that a record shall be maintainedof:

- any medicinal treatment given to animals, and

- the number of mortalities found on eachinspection of animals carried out in accordance withthe provisions in Schedule 1, paragraph 2.

Schedule 1, paragraph 8 states that the recordreferred to in Schedule 1, paragraph 7 shall beretained for a period of at least three years from thedate on which the medical treatment was given, orthe date of the inspection, as the case may be, andshall be made available to an authorised person

when carrying out an inspection or when otherwiserequested by such person.

20 Shepherds should be experienced or trainedand be competent across the range of health and

welfare skills - which should include vaccination,drenching, prevention of footrot and treatment oflame sheep, prevention and treatment of internaland external parasites including scab and fly strike,tail docking and castration. It is particularlyimportant that shepherds have competence in theskills required at lambing time.

21 A written health and welfare programme forall animals should be prepared for each flock.This should cover the yearly production cycle.It should be developed with appropriate veterinaryand technical advice, and reviewed and updatedannually. The programme should include sufficientrecords to assess the basic output of the flock andshould address, as a minimum, vaccination policyand timing, control of external and internalparasites, and foot care. Pasture managementshould form an integral part of disease controland especially so in the case of internal parasitesand footrot, where total reliance on drugs is bestavoided.

22 Particular attention should be paid to sheep,including rams, which are to be introduced intoan established flock, since diseases can easily bespread. Such sheep should be segregated for atleast four weeks and inspected and treated,

if necessary, for diseases such as sheep scab orfootrot. Newly introduced ewes should again besegregated for about four weeks before lambingand lambed separately, preferably after the mainflock, to avoid the introduction of infectiousabortion agents at this time.

23 Before introduction of rams to a flock attupping time, ewes should be checked for fitness(especially for lameness, teeth, udders and bodycondition) and any ewe which is substandardshould be culled, together with any known to havesuffered reproductive problems in previous seasons.This is particularly important for animals expectedto live under harsh conditions. Rams should also bechecked for their suitability for breeding.

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24 Records must be maintained (see the boxbefore paragraph 20) of any medicinal treatmentgiven and the number of mortalities found ineach inspection. Where equivalent information isrequired to be kept for other purposes, such as formedicine records or sheep identification legislation,these shall suffice.

Inspection

25 The health and welfare of animals depend uponregular supervision. Shepherds should carry outinspections of the flock at intervals appropriate tothe circumstances in which sheep are kept and payparticular attention to signs of injury, distress, illnessor infestation (e.g. sheep scab, fly strike, lamenessand mastitis) so that these conditions can berecognised and dealt with promptly. The frequencyof inspection will depend on factors which affectsheep welfare at any particular time, such ashousing, lambing, fly strike and adverse winterweather conditions.

Condition scoring

26 Sheep farmers and shepherds should be aware

that the use of condition scoring can contributesignificantly to good husbandry. Condition scoringis an easy technique to learn and allows the bodyreserves of individual sheep to be assessed quickly.The information gained enables high standards ofhusbandry to be achieved and can prevent awelfare problem from developing. This techniqueenables the identification of animals requiringspecial care. For example, a condition score in asignificant number of the flock of less than 2 forlowland sheep, and of 1.5 for those on the hill, canindicate inadequate management and the need forpositive steps to rectify the situation.

Lameness

27 Lameness in any animal is usually an indicationof pain. Lameness in sheep is one of the mostcommon signs of ill health and discomfort. It hasclear adverse welfare implications and also affectsthe performance and production of both ewes andrams. A significant percentage of sheep withchronic lameness may be indicative of poor overallwelfare standards within the flock.

28 Good stockmanship, including frequent andthorough inspection along with correct diagnosisand implementation of a suitable programme ofprevention and treatment, will help to reduce theincidence of lameness.

29 Lameness can originate in the feet or joints,although in adult sheep the foot is the mostcommon site. A flock programme of foot careshould be part of the written welfare programmereferred to at paragraph 21. An effective foot careprogramme will include regular inspection of thesheeps feet. It may also necessitate regular andcareful paring, treatment of infected feet and foot-bathing with a suitable solution, which ismaintained at the manufacturers recommendeddilution, and, where appropriate, vaccination.

If footrot is a major cause of lameness or if normaltreatments are unsuccessful, veterinary adviceshould be sought.

30 Foot paring is a skilled procedure and candamage feet if carried out incorrectly or excessively.If in doubt, specialist advice should be sought.

31 If a chronically lame sheep does not respond toremedial treatment, it should be culled and not leftto suffer. As such animals cannot be transported ina way which avoids further suffering, they shouldbe slaughtered on the farm (see paragraph 37).In addition, sheep that cannot get up withoutassistance or sheep that can bear weight on onlythree legs when standing must not be transported.

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Sheep that can bear weight on all four feet but areslightly lame should not be consigned to market orsent on any journey which is likely to exacerbatethe injury, however slight.

External parasites

32 Where external parasites, such as those causingscab or fly strike, ticks or lice, are likely to occur,sheep should be protected by dipping or by the useof an effective preventive chemical agent. Wheresheep are clinically infected with such externalparasites, effective treatment must be given withoutdelay.

Internal parasites

33 Internal parasites should be controlled bygrazing management and/or anthelmintic treatmentadministered at appropriate times based upon thelife cycle of the parasite. Advice on appropriatetiming, and steps to avoid the development ofanthelmintic-resistant worms, should be soughtfrom a veterinary surgeon or specialist adviser.

Casualties34 Injured, ailing or distressed sheep should beidentified and treated without delay. Where theshepherd is able to identify the cause of ill health,he or she should take immediate remedial action.When in doubt, veterinary advice should beobtained as soon as possible.

35 Provision should be made, and used whennecessary, for the segregation and care of sick orinjured animals. Unfit sheep (including infirm,diseased, ill and injured animals) should be removedfrom flocks.

36 If an unfit sheep does not respond to treatment,it should be culled or humanely killed on-farm. It is anoffence to cause, or to allow, unnecessary pain orunnecessary distress by leaving a sheep to suffer.

37 In an emergency, it may be necessary to kill ananimal immediately to prevent suffering. In such

cases, the animal should be destroyed in a humanemanner and, where possible, by a person experiencedand/or trained both in the techniques and theequipment used for killing sheep.

38 If animals are killed or slaughtered on-farm,other than in an emergency, the operation mayonly be carried out using a permitted methodand in accordance with current welfare atslaughter legislation.

It is a general offence under the Welfare of Animals(Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995 No.731) as amended by the Welfare of Animals(Slaughter or Killing) (Amendment) Regulations 1999(S.I. 1999 No. 400), to cause or permit any avoidableexcitement, pain or suffering to any animal duringslaughter or killing (Regulation 4(1)). The generaloffence applies in all cases, but the detailed provisionsin respect of the method of slaughter or killing do notapply when an animal has to be killed immediately for

emergency reasons (Regulation 13(2)).

When an animal is slaughtered or killed on-farm, thismust be done using a permitted method. The animalcould be:

- stunned using a captive bolt pistol, concussionstunner or electrical stunner after which it must befollowed by bleeding or pithed without delay(Regulation 14 and Schedules 5 (Part II) and 6). If theanimal is stunned and bled, the operation must be

carried out by a slaughterman licensed for theseoperations (Schedule 1), unless the owner isslaughtering an animal for his own consumption; or

- killed by a free bullet (Regulation 15 and Schedule 5Part III); the animal should be killed with a single shotto the head.

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39 An unfit sheep may be transported only if it isbeing taken for veterinary treatment/diagnosis or isgoing to the nearest available place of slaughterand then only provided it is transported in a waywhich is not going to cause it further suffering.Further advice can be found in a Defra bookletwhich gives guidance on the transport of casualty

farm animals (see Appendix).

Articles 4(1) and 6(1) of the Welfare of Animals(Transport) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997 No. 1480)respectively provide that:

- No person shall transport any animal in a waywhich causes or is likely to cause injury orunnecessary suffering to that animal.

- No person shall transport any animal unless:

- it is fit for the intended journey; and- suitable provision has been made for its careduring the journey and on arrival at the placeof destination.

- For these purposes an animal shall not beconsidered fit for its intended journey if it is ill,injured, infirm or fatigued, unless it is only slightlyill, injured, infirm or fatigued and the intended

journey is not likely to cause it unnecessarysuffering.

- Notwithstanding the above, any sheep may betransported to the nearest available place forveterinary treatment or diagnosis, or to the nearestavailable place of slaughter, if the animal is notlikely to be subject to unnecessary suffering byreason of its unfitness. However, an animal sotransported may not be dragged or pushed by anymeans, or lifted by a mechanical device, unless thisis done in the presence and under the supervisionof a veterinary surgeon who is arranging for it to

be transported with all practicable speed to a placefor veterinary treatment.

Dosing & vaccination equipment

40 Care should be taken to ensure that allequipment used in dosing, vaccination and treatmentis maintained to a satisfactory standard. Equipmentused for any injections should be frequently cleansedand sterilised to avoid infections. Ideally, disposableneedles should be used. Dosing gun nozzles shouldbe of a size suitable for the age of the sheep.Hazardous objects such as needles should bedisposed of safely in accordance with currentlegislation.

41 Where necessary, the shepherd should receivetraining in the use and maintenance of equipmentused for dosing, vaccination and treatment.

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General

42 All fields and buildings should be kept clear ofdebris such as wire or plastic, which could beharmful to sheep.

43 When sheep are outdoors in winter, andparticularly when fed on root crops, they should beallowed either to run back to pasture or to a strawbedded area, which gives a more comfortable lyingarea as well as limiting the build-up of mud or dungon the fleece. Where there is no natural shelter forthe sheep, artificial shelter, such as the placement ofstraw bales, should be provided.

Schedule 1, paragraph 17 of the Welfare of FarmedAnimals (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000 No.

1870) states that:- Animals not kept in buildings shall, where necessaryand possible, be given protection from adverseweather conditions, predators and risks to theirhealth and shall, at all times, have access to a well-drained lying area.

Marking

44 Permanent marking of sheep by, for example, eartattooing or tagging, should be carried out only bya skilled stockman using properly maintainedinstruments. Ear tags should be suitable for use insheep. Wherever possible, marking should not beundertaken during the fly season. If marking doeshave to be carried out during the fly season, farmersshould take measures which will prevent or reducethe threat of fly strike. Where, for flock managementpurposes, ear marking is by notching or punching,this should be done using proprietary equipment.

If horned breeds of sheep are to be marked for flockmanagement purposes, horn branding is to bepreferred.

45 Aerosols or paints used for temporary markingshould be non-toxic.

Handling

46 All sheep farmers should have easily operatedand efficient handling pens, to facilitate routinemanagement and treatment, on a size and scale tosuit the flock numbers. Pens and floors should bemaintained in good repair and should not have anysharp edges or projections, which might injure sheep.

47 When sheep are to be transported, well-designedcollecting, loading and unloading facilities should beavailable on the farm. It is helpful if the sheep arefamiliar with these handling pens in order tominimise stress levels.

48 Sheep should not be caught by the fleece alone.They should be handled or restrained by means of a

hand or an arm under the neck (holding the neckwool, if necessary) with the other arm placed on oraround the rear. Lifting or dragging sheep by thefleece, tail, ears, horns or legs is unacceptable.Care should be taken with horns, which may bebroken off if sheep are roughly handled.

49 Devices such as raddles, harnesses, tethers andyokes should be of suitable material and should beproperly fitted and adjusted to avoid causing injuryor discomfort. They should be checked regularly and

should not be used for longer than necessary.Tethering by the horns is unacceptable.

Fencing & hedges

50 Fences and hedges should be well-maintainedso as to avoid injury to sheep and prevententanglement. Where any type of mesh fencing isused, particularly for horned sheep, and aroundlambing fields, it should be checked frequently sothat any animals which are caught can be released.

51 Electric fences should be designed, installed,used and maintained so that contact with them doesnot cause more than momentary discomfort to the

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sheep. Electric mesh fencing should not be used forhorned sheep.

Shearing

52 Every mature sheep should have its fleece

removed at least once a year.

53 Shearers should be experienced, competentand have received adequate training in shearingtechniques. Inexperienced shearers should besupervised by suitably competent staff. Whenshearing, care should be taken not to cut the skinof the sheep. Where a wound does occur,immediate treatment should be given.

54 Shearers and all contractors should clean anddisinfect their equipment between flocks to minimisethe risk of spreading disease.

55 Full use should be made of weather forecastsand shelter to avoid excessive cold stress to newlyshorn sheep at whatever time of year shearing iscarried out.

56 Winter shearing is not a suitable practice unlessthe sheep are housed.

57 Sheep which were shorn and housed in wintershould be turned out to grass in spring only whenthe fleece has regrown to 1520 mm in length andwhen weather conditions are favourable. Whereadequate natural shelter is not available, other meansshould be adopted, such as the provision of strawbales.

Castration

58 Farmers and shepherds should consider carefullywhether castration is necessary within any particularflock. Castration is unlikely to be necessary wherelambs will be finished and sent to slaughter before

reaching sexual maturity. The procedure should onlybe carried out when lambs are likely to be retainedafter puberty and where it is necessary to avoidwelfare problems associated with the managementof entire males.

59 Account should be taken not only of the pain

and distress caused by castration but also the stressimposed by gathering and handling, and thepotential risk of infection. For very young lambsgathered in large groups, there is a real risk of mis-mothering, which may lead ultimately to starvationand death.

60 Castration should not be performed on lambsuntil the ewe/lamb bond has become established.

61 Castration may only be carried out in strictaccordance with the law (see box below). Theprocedure should be performed by a competent,trained operator. Once a lamb is over three monthsof age, castration may only be performed by aveterinary surgeon using a suitable anaesthetic.Shepherds should only carry out surgical castrationafter having first considered and ruled out alternativemethods, in discussion with their veterinary surgeon.

Under the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act

1954, as amended, it is an offence to castrate lambswhich have reached three months of age without theuse of an anaesthetic. Furthermore, the use of arubber ring, or other device, to restrict the flow ofblood to the scrotum or tail, is only permittedwithout an anaesthetic if the device is applied duringthe first week of life.

Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, asamended, only a veterinary surgeon may castrate alamb which has reached the age of three months.

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Tail docking

62 Farmers and shepherds should consider carefullywhether tail docking within a particular flock isnecessary. Tail docking may be carried out only iffailure to do so would lead to subsequent welfareproblems because of dirty tails and potential flystrike. If it is considered that both tail docking andcastration are necessary, thought should be given toperforming both operations at the one time ofhandling, so as to minimise disruption and thepotential for mis-mothering and distress.

63 Tail docking must be carried out only in strictaccordance with the law (see box below and thatfollowing paragraph 61). The procedure should beperformed by a competent, trained operator.

The Welfare of Livestock (Prohibited Operations)Regulations 1982 (S.I. 1982 No. 1884), as amendedby the Welfare of Livestock (Prohibited Operations)(Amendment) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987 No. 114)prohibit penis amputation and other penileoperations, tooth grinding, freeze dagging andshort-tail docking of sheep unless sufficient tail isretained to cover the vulva in the case of femalesheep and the anus in the case of male sheep.

Tooth grinding

64 Tooth grinding of sheep is prohibited by law(see box following paragraph 63).

Electro-immobilisation, vasectomy& electro-ejaculation

65 The electro-immobilisation of sheep isprohibited by law. Vasectomy or electro-ejaculationmay be carried out only by a veterinary surgeon.

Schedule 1, paragraph 30 of the Welfare of FarmedAnimals (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000 No.1870), states that:

- No person shall apply an electrical current to anyanimal for the purposes of immobilisation.

The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, as amended bythe Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (Schedule 3Amendment) Order 1988 (S.I. 1988 No. 526)prohibits the performance of a vasectomy or thecarrying out of electro-ejaculation by anyone otherthan a veterinary surgeon.

Dehorning or disbudding

66 Dehorning or disbudding of a sheep by lay

persons is against the law, except for the trimmingof ingrowing horn in certain circumstances (see boxbelow). Horned sheep, especially rams, should beregularly inspected to ensure that neither the tipnor any other part of the horn is in contact with theface.

Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, asamended, only a veterinary surgeon may dehorn ordisbud a sheep, apart from trimming the insensitivetip of an ingrowing horn which, if left untreated,could cause pain or distress.

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- Subject to sub-paragraph 2, natural or artificialbreeding or breeding procedures which cause, orare likely to cause, suffering or injury to any of theanimals concerned shall not be practised.

- Sub-paragraph 1 shall not preclude the use ofnatural or artificial breeding procedures that arelikely to cause minimal or momentary suffering orinjury or that might necessitate interventions whichwould not cause lasting injury.

Schedule 1, paragraph 29 states that:

- No animals shall be kept for farming purposesunless it can reasonably be expected, on the basis

of their genotype or phenotype, that they can bekept without detrimental effect on their health orwelfare.

67 The body condition of the ewe and nutritionalmanagement prior to tupping have a marked effecton the ovulation rate and eventual litter size. Theram should also be in appropriate body condition.Farmers and shepherds should be aware of theinfluence of pre-mating management upon thesubsequent needs of the ewe in pregnancy, and

should plan accordingly.

68 It is possible to manipulate the time and patternof lambing by using vasectomised rams, intra-vaginal progestagen sponges with or withoutpregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) - oradministration of melatonin. If the lambing date ischanged and/or litter size is increased, accountshould be taken of the special requirements forfeed, labour and other inputs both before and atlambing time, when the welfare of ewes is underparticular pressure. In particular, housing or sheltershould be available if lambing is to take place inadverse weather conditions.

69 Any person using artificial insemination shouldbe trained and competent in the technique.

70 Laparoscopic artificial insemination is a surgicaltechnique which must be carried out only by aveterinary surgeon using an anaesthetic.

71 Treatment of ewes using hormones to producemultiple embryos and subsequent embryo transfermust be carried out only by a veterinary surgeon.Embryo transfer is an act of veterinary surgery.

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Breeding techniques


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72 The nutritional management of pregnant ewes isparticularly important. Both condition scoring andscanning can be of benefit.

73 Pregnant and nursing ewes should receiveadequate food to ensure the development of healthylambs and to maintain the health and bodily

condition of the ewe.

74 Scanning can be a valuable aid to management.However, scanning is an addition to good husbandrynot a replacement. The scanning procedure allowsbarren, single, twin and triplet bearing ewes to bemanaged as separate groups. A combination ofscanning and condition scoring allows ewes carryingmore than one lamb, and thin ewes, to be separatedfor special feeding and supervision. Equipment shouldbe properly cleansed and disinfected between flocks.

75 Heavily pregnant ewes should be handled withcare to avoid distress and injury, which may precipitatepremature lambing. However, if a heavily pregnantewe requires treatment, such as for lameness, sheshould receive appropriate treatment as soon aspossible and not be left untreated until after lambing.

76 A large proportion of ewe mortalities occurduring the period around lambing, so particular skill

and expertise are required at this time. Severedamage can be caused through inexperience whenassisting a ewe in difficulties. Shepherds shouldtherefore be experienced and competent beforehaving responsibility for a flock at lambing time.Where necessary, they should receive training.

77 Shepherds should pay particular attention tocleanliness and hygiene of equipment and pensduring pregnancy and lambing. Personal cleanliness isessential when assisting ewes to lamb. Attention tocleanliness and hygiene is also important in thelambing area and pens used in treating or assistinglambing ewes. Lambing pens, sufficient in numberand size, should be easily accessible and on a dry,well-drained site. Each pen should be provided with a

hay rack, feed trough and water bucket. If the pensare outdoors, their tops should be covered.

78 There may be times when even a proficientshepherd experiences difficulty in delivering a lambsingle-handed. In such cases, assistance should becalled immediately.

79 Any ewe with a prolapse should be treatedimmediately using an appropriate technique and,where necessary, veterinary advice should be sought.

80 Embryotomy, the dissection and removal of afoetus which cannot be delivered naturally, should becarried out on dead lambs only. It should never beused to remove a live lamb.

81 Every effort should be made to prevent the build-up and spread of infection by ensuring that lambingpens are provided with adequate, clean bedding andare regularly cleansed. It is particularly important toensure that dead lambs and afterbirths are removedand disposed of in a suitable manner without delay.

The Dogs Acts 1906-28 include provisions making itan offence for a person knowingly to permit a carcassto remain unburied in a place to which dogs couldgain access.

Article 5 of the EU Animal By-Products Regulationrequires that fallen stock are disposed of by:

- despatch to a knackers yard, hunt kennel ormaggot farm;

- incineration in approved premises;

- rendering in approved premises.

The Animal By-Products Regulation does not permitthe burial or on-farm burning of fallen stock, exceptin designated remote areas. In the UK these will bethe Isle of Lundy, Isles of Scilly and designated areasof the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

This provision applies to the disposal of stillborn orunborn lambs, as well as to older sheep.6

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82 Shepherds should be able to recognise lambsin need of resuscitation and be familiar withresuscitation techniques and survival aids, such asfeeding by stomach tube and use of a warmer box.A Defra booklet on improving lamb survival givesfurther information (see Appendix).

83 It is vital that every newly born lamb receivescolostrum from its dam, or from another source, assoon as possible and in any case within three hoursof birth. Adequate supplies of colostrum shouldalways be available for use in emergencies, such aswhen a ewe lambs with poor milk supplies.

84 A source of heat (for example a warmer box)should be available to revive weak lambs, but careshould be taken to avoid overheating.

85 Where lambing takes place outdoors, someform of shelter or windbreak should be available.

86 The problem of mis-mothering, which occursparticularly during gathering, handling, transport ordipping of ewes and lambs, should be reduced bykeeping group size to a minimum. Identifying lambsand mothers is also beneficial, using non-toxiccolour markers.

87 Wherever possible, young lambs, other thanwith their mothers, should not be sold at market.Arrangements for the direct transfer of orphanlambs from farm to farm, rather than through amarket, should be encouraged in order to minimisedisease risk. The law forbids the transport and thesale at market of lambs with an unhealed navel.

Article 6 of the Welfare of Animals (Transport Order)1997(S.I. 1997 No. 1480) states that:

- Animals shall not be considered fit for transport if(inter alia) they are newborn animals in which thenavel has not completely healed.

Under Article 5A of the Welfare of Animals atMarkets Order 1990 (S.I. 1990 No. 2627), as

amended by the Welfare of Animals at MarketsOrder 1993 (S.I. 1993 No. 3085), no person shallbring to a market, or allow to be exposed for sale ina market, a lamb or goat kid with an unhealed navel.

Under the above Orders it is also an offence tocause or permit lambs with unhealed navels to be

transported to, or be brought to, or exposed for salein, a market.

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88 Artificial rearing of lambs requires closeattention and high standards of supervision andstockmanship if it is to be successful. It is essentialthat all lambs should start with an adequatesupply of colostrum.

89 All lambs should receive an adequate amount

of suitable liquid feed, such as ewe milk replacer, atregular intervals each day for at least the first fourweeks of their life.

90 From the second week of life, lambs should alsohave access to palatable and nutritious solid food(which may include grass) and always have accessto fresh, clean water.

91 Where automatic feeding equipment isprovided, lambs should be trained in its use toensure that they regularly consume an adequateamount of food and the equipment should bechecked daily to see that it is working properly.

92 Troughs should be kept clean and any stalefeed removed. Automatic feeding systems must bewell-maintained and checked daily. Equipment andutensils used for liquid feeding should bethoroughly cleansed and sterilised at frequentintervals.

93 A dry bed and adequate draught-freeventilation should be provided.

94 Where necessary, arrangements should bemade to supply safe supplementary heating for veryyoung lambs.

95 Suitable accommodation should be available forsick or injured lambs. This should be separate fromother livestock.

96 Until weaning, housed lambs should be kept insmall groups to facilitate inspection and limit thespread of disease.

97 Where young lambs are being reared at pasturewithout their mothers, care should be taken toensure that they have adequate shelter.

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Artificial rearing


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General

Schedule 1, paragraph 4 of the Welfare of FarmedAnimals (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000 No.1870), states that where anyanimals (other than poultry) are kept in a building:

- they shall be kept on, or have access at all timesto, a lying area which either has well-maintaineddry bedding or is well-drained.

Schedule 1, paragraph 6 states:

- where necessary, sick or injured animals shall beisolated in suitable accommodation with, whereappropriate, dry comfortable bedding.


- The freedom of movement of animals, havingregard to their species and in accordance withestablished experience and scientific knowledge,shall not be restricted in such a way as to causethem unnecessary suffering or injury.

Schedule 1, paragraph 10 states that, whereanimals are continuously or regularly tethered orconfined:

- they shall be given the space appropriate to theirphysiological and ethological needs in accordancewith established experience and scientificknowledge.

98 Winter housing of sheep can improve welfare,but problems of both disease and welfare can arisewhen large numbers are kept together. Adviceshould be sought on the design, construction ormodification of buildings. Adequate ventilation

without draughts is of particular importance, as alsois the provision of sufficient trough space and lyingarea.

99 The greater the restriction imposed on a sheepthrough housing systems, the less the animal is ableto use its instinctive behaviour to minimise theeffects of any imposed, unfavourable conditions.Housed sheep require continuing conscientiousattention by staff well-trained in the nutritional andenvironmental needs of the sheep.

100 When changes are made to sheep husbandrysystems which involve installing more complex orelaborate equipment than had previously beenused, consideration should be given to the welfareof the animals and the need for the training of theshepherd.

101 Dry, clean, comfortable conditions under footshould be provided to minimise footrot and hygieneproblems. Regular provision of fresh bedding isparticularly important at lambing time.

102 When first housed, sheep should be both dryand free from footrot. Sheep affected by footrotshould be segregated and treated immediately inorder to prevent it from becoming a flock problem.

Ventilation


- air circulation, dust levels, temperature, relative airhumidity and gas concentrations shall be keptwithin limits which are not harmful to the animals.

103 Effective ventilation of buildings (to avoid highhumidity, condensation and draughts) is essential,as sheep are particularly susceptible to respiratory

diseases. Properly designed ventilation will permitthe free circulation of air above sheep height andavoid draughts at sheep level.

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Housing


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Buildings & equipment

104 The law sets minimum requirements for thehousing of sheep.

Schedule 1, paragraphs 11 and 12 of the Welfareof Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I.2000 No. 1870), state that:- materials used for the construction ofaccommodation, and, in particular for theconstruction of pens, cages, stalls and equipmentwith which the animals may come into contact,shall not be harmful to them and shall be capableof being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

- accommodation and fittings for securing animalsshall be constructed and maintained so that thereare no sharp edges or protrusions likely to causeinjury to them.

105 Internal surfaces of housing and pens shouldbe made of materials which can be cleansed anddisinfected or be easily replaced when necessary.

106 Surfaces should not be treated with paints orwood preservatives which may cause illness ordeath. There is a risk of lead poisoning from oldpaintwork, especially when second-hand building

materials are used.

107 All floors should be designed, constructed andmaintained so as to avoid discomfort, stress orinjury to the sheep. Regular maintenance isessential.

108 Solid floors should be well-drained and thesheep provided with dry bedding.

109 Newly born and young lambs should not beput on slatted floors unless suitable bedding is alsoprovided.

110 Water bowls and troughs should beconstructed and sited so as to avoid fouling and to

minimise the risk of water freezing in cold weather.They should be kept thoroughly clean and shouldbe checked at least once daily, and more frequentlyin extreme conditions, to ensure that they are inworking order.

111 Troughs should be designed and installed in

such a way as to ensure that small lambs cannotget into them and drown.

112 For sheep given concentrate feed, when allanimals are fed together, it is important to haveadequate trough space to avoid competition andaggression. In normal practice, approximately 30 cmof trough space is needed for hill ewes andapproximately 45 cm for the larger lowland ewes.Excessive competition is detrimental to sheepwelfare.

113 When feeding hay and silage ad lib., troughspace should normally be provided within the range1012 cm per ewe, dependent upon size. Racksand troughs should be positioned and designed toavoid injury, discomfort and damage to sheep.

Lighting

Schedule 1, paragraph 3 of the Welfare of FarmedAnimals (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000 No.1870) requires that:

- Where animals are kept in a building, adequatelighting (whether fixed or portable) shall beavailable to enable them to be thoroughly inspectedat any time.

Schedule 1, paragraphs 14-16 state that:

- Animals kept in buildings shall not be kept in

permanent darkness.- Where the natural light available in a building isinsufficient to meet the physiological andethological needs of any animals being kept in itthen appropriate artificial lighting shall be provided.

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- Animals kept in buildings shall not be keptwithout an appropriate period of rest from artificiallighting.

114 The law requires that fixed or portable lightingbe available so that sheep kept in buildings can bethoroughly inspected at any time.

115 Throughout the hours of daylight, the level ofindoor lighting, natural or artificial, should be suchthat all housed sheep can be seen clearly by theshepherd.

Space allowances

116 The space allowance and group size forhoused sheep should be determined according toage, size and class of livestock. Some examples ofcurrent good practice, with adequate ventilationand well-bedded on straw indoors, are set outbelow.

Category of sheep Space

Lowland ewes 1.2-1.4 m 2 floor space per(60-90 kg live weight) ewe during pregnancy

Lowland ewes after 2.0-2.2 m 2 floor spacelambing with lambs at per ewe and lambsfoot up to six weeksof age

Hill ewes 1.0-1.2 m 2 floor space(45-65 kg live weight) per ewe during

pregnancy

Hill ewes after lambing, 1.82.0 m 2 floor spacewith lambs at foot up per ewe and lambsto six weeks of age

Lambs up to 12 0.50.6 m 2 floor spaceweeks old per lamb

Lambs and sheep 12 0.750.9 m 2 floor spaceweeks to 12 months old per lamb/sheep

Rams 1.52.0 m 2

Shorn sheep

The space allowances may be reduced by 10% for winter-shornsheep. However no corresponding reduction should be made inrespect of the amount of trough space allocated see paragraphs112 and 113.

Group size

Where possible, pregnant ewes should be kept in groups of less than50 to allow for better individual recognition and attention at lambingtime.


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Mechanical equipment & services


- All automated or mechanical equipment essential

for the health and well-being of the animals shall beinspected at least once a day to check there is nodefect in it.


- Where defects in automated or mechanicalequipment of the type referred to in paragraph 18 ofSchedule 1 are discovered, these shall be rectifiedimmediately or, if this is impossible, appropriate stepsshall be taken to safeguard the health and well-beingof the animals pending the rectification of suchdefects, including the use of alternative methods offeeding and watering and methods of providing andmaintaining a satisfactory environment.

On artificial ventilation systems, Schedule 1,paragraph 20 states that where the health and well-being of the animals is dependent on such a system:

(a) provision shall be made for an appropriate back-upsystem to guarantee sufficient air renewal to preservethe health and well-being of the animals in the eventof failure of the system; and(b) an alarm system (which will operate even if theprincipal electricity supply to it has failed) shall beprovided to give warning of any failure of the system.


- The back-up system referred to in paragraph 20(a)of Schedule 1 shall be thoroughly inspected and thealarm system referred to in paragraph 20(b) ofSchedule 1 shall be tested at least once every sevendays in order to check that there is no defect in thesystem and, if any defect is found (whether when thesystem is inspected or tested in accordance with thisparagraph or at any other time), it shall be rectifiedimmediately.

117 All equipment and services including waterbowls and troughs, ventilating fans, heating andlighting units, milking machines, fire extinguishersand alarm systems should be cleaned and inspectedregularly and kept in good working order.

118 The law (see box before paragraph 117)

requires all automatic equipment used in intensivesystems to be thoroughly inspected by theshepherd, or other competent person, not less thanonce each day to check that there is no defect. Anydefect must be rectified immediately.

119 All electrical installations at mains voltageshould be inaccessible to sheep, well-insulated,safeguarded from rodents and properly earthed.

Fire & other emergency precautions120 Farmers should make advance plans fordealing with emergencies such as fire, flood ordisruption of supplies and should ensure that allstaff are familiar with the appropriate emergencyaction.

121 Design advice is important when constructingor modifying a building. There should be provision

for livestock to be released and evacuated quickly inthe event of an emergency. Consideration shouldbe given to installing fire alarm systems which canbe heard and acted upon at any time of the day ornight.

122 If sheep are housed, knowledge of fireprecautions by the farmer and all staff should be apriority.

123 Expert advice on all fire precautions can beobtained from fire prevention officers of local firebrigades and from the Fire Prevention Association.

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124 To minimise the risk of sheep being trapped insnow or being unable to gain shelter, care shouldbe taken in siting shelters, shelter belts and fences.

125 As far as is practicable, sheep should beprevented from gathering in places where they maybe buried by snow. Where possible, they should be

allowed to move naturally or be shepherded intosafer areas.

126 All sheep should be removed from areas thatare in imminent danger of flooding.

127 Young lambs should be protected, as far aspossible, from hazards such as open drains andpredators.

128 Any dog is a potential hazard to sheep andshould be kept under control on agricultural land.Well-trained sheepdogs, however, can greatlyfacilitate gathering and handling, particularly underextensive conditions. They should be trained so thatthey do not grip sheep. Sheepdogs should be wellcared for and maintained in good health. Theyshould be regularly wormed to eliminateendoparasites.

The Animals Act 1971 lays down measures with

respect to civil liability for the protection of livestockfrom dogs, and the Dogs (Protection of Livestock)Act 1953 makes it an offence to allow a dog toworry livestock.

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Management

129 Milk sheep flocks are in many cases subjectedto a more intensive system of husbandry than aconventional flock and will require especially vigilantstockmanship to ensure that their health andwelfare are maintained.

130 Shepherds should be aware of specificproblems relevant to milk sheep and the ways inwhich these may be avoided.

131 Some breeds of milk sheep appear to beespecially susceptible to foot problems and thesecan be exacerbated by the husbandry methodsunder which the sheep are kept. The roadway,entrances and exits to buildings and fields should

be well-maintained and kept as clean as possible.132 Routine treatments to prevent foot problemsshould be adopted but care should be taken in theobservance of withdrawal periods for any medicinesused, particularly during lactation. Efforts to combatfootrot during the drying-off period are particularlyimportant.

133 Milk sheep are naturally prolific and requireparticular attention to the level of nutrition

provided during pregnancy and lactation.

Milking practices

134 Special attention should be paid to milkingtechniques, the adjustment of milking equipmentand dairy hygiene. Milking should take place atleast daily, on a regular basis, ensuring that ewesare not left with unrelieved, distended udders.

135 Before and after milking, hygiene measuresshould be adopted to reduce the spread of diseasesof the mammary gland.

136 Good milking practices include carefulhandling, examination of foremilk and avoidance ofexcessive stripping.

Milking parlours & equipment

137 Pens, ramps, milking parlours and milkingequipment should be properly designed,constructed and maintained to prevent injury anddistress.

138 It is essential to ensure that milking machinesare functioning correctly by carrying out propermaintenance and adjustment of vacuum levels,pulsation rates and ratios, taking account of themanufacturers recommendations.

Milk sheep

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Appendix

Copies of the above publications can be obtained,free of charge, from: -

Defra PublicationsAdmail 6000London SW1A 2XXTelephone Orders (for free publications):0845 955 6000Telephone Enquiries: 0845 955 6000Email: [email protected]: http://www.defra.gov.uk

These publications are updated on a regular basis;for more information on the most current versionsand new literature please contact Defras AnimalWelfare Division on 020 7904 6512

Copies of the legislation quoted in the Code areavailable from The Stationery Office:

TSO Publications CentrePO Box 29Norwich NR3 1GNTelephone orders: 0870 600 5522Email: [email protected]: http://www.clicktso.com

Useful publicationsPublications related to sheep welfare available from Defra as at August 2000

PB No. Title

0409 Code of Practice - The Welfare of Animals in Livestock Markets

0621 Farm Fires: Advice on Farm Animal Welfare

1147 Emergencies on Livestock Farms

1149 Lameness in Sheep

1381 Guidance on the Transport of Casualty Farm Animals

1875 Condition Scoring of Sheep

2072 Improving Lamb Survival

2111 Heat Stress in Sheep

2594 Explanatory Guide to the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing)Regulations 1995

3477 Welfare of Red Meat Animals at Slaughter - Pre-slaughter Handling:a Pocket Guide

3478 Welfare of Red Meat Animals at Slaughter - Stunning and Sticking:a Pocket Guide

3575 Assessment of Practical Experience in the Handling, Transport and Careof Animals

3766 Guidance on the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997

4908 Halal Slaughter leaflet (also available in Arabic, Bengali, Turkish and Urdu)


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Appendix

If you would like any further information or advicerelating to this code please contact Defras AnimalWelfare Division on 020 7904 6521.

Further information


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Further copies of this publication are available from:Defra PublicationsAdmail 6000LondonSW1A 2XX

Tel: 0845 955 6000

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