England has over 20 million sheep, thankfully (unlike most barnyard friends) roaming free in the hills, over factory farms. Of course, vegans and vegetarians are upset at the thought of lambs and older sheep (mutton) being killed in abattoirs.
But whether you eat lamb or not, here are ways to help our woolly friends, in a land that is known for its love of all animals.
Sheep Are Intelligent!
First of all, let’s put a common myth straight. Sheep are not stupid (far from it). They are intelligent amusing creatures who can recognise up to 50 people for up to 2 years, and know when you’re smiling at them!
Sheep have excellent sense of smell (with glands in their eyes and hooves!) They also have excellent hearing (each lamb recognises ‘mum’ by her bleat, amid thousands of other sheep!)
Sheep (and goats) spook easily, which is why they have rectangular eyes to see predators from all angles. So never approach them (ewes can miscarry from shock).
Report farm animal concerns first to farmers with a friendly word. If no joy, call RSPCA (or Crimestoppers (anonymous).
Where are Most of England’s Sheep?
All over, really. But there are more in Cumbria (six times more sheep than permanent people residents!) and also lots more in Northumberland and Cumbria.
There are more than 90 breeds of sheep in England. The two best-known are Swaledale (highly-strung sheep who are likely to jump over dry-stone walls if spooked – found in Yorkshire).
And Herdwick sheep, suited to the climate in isolated Cumbrian Fells, familiar for its black face and curly horns. They are counted by farmers using the yan-tan-tethera method, a kind of rhyme that uses rounds of 20 (also used in ancient times to count knitting stitches!)
How to Keep Sheep Safe in the Countryside
As mentioned above, sheep are easily spooked, so stay clear from them, and their lambs. Take your litter with you, and don’t light fires or leave cigarette butts (like a dry match to paper in warm weather).
Follow the Countryside Code to help dogs and livestock safe. Read our post on positive dog training, to keep dogs under control near sheep (if in doubt, don’t walk nearby).
Put dogs on leads on Open Access land (a legal requirement between 1 March and 31 July). This is for your dog’s safety too, as farmers can legally shoot dogs that worry sheep.
Issues with Sheep Welfare
Although sheep in England tend to all be farmed outdoors (so no factory farms), there are still many welfare issues. The demand for Easter Lamb leads to many being bred to produce two or more lambs (if left to nature, multiple births are rare for sheep).
Many ewes miscarry, and many lambs die due to disease and exposure. This is because simply that there are often too many sheep in a field at one time, to keep an eye on foot scald (inflammation from droppings and soil bacteria) or foot rot (the hoof starts to die). These diseases are common in northern England, due to more rain.
Most sheep farmers carry a spray, in an never-ending battle to prevent disease. The other main issue is fly strike (maggots laying eggs in the fleece, caused by blowflies). This can leave near-fatal open wounds, if not immediately treated.
This is why some sheep farmers use a practice called mulesing (slicing away chunks of skin without painkillers) which is why ‘ethical wool companies’ have website statements that they only buy wool from farmers who do not use this practice.
Good sheep farmers (and sanctuaries) pay shearers per hour (not by sheep). To ensure the job is done properly. Not shearing sheep properly (and too early) can lead to pneumonia.
Why Don’t Vegans & Vegetarian Eat Lamb?
Because they don’t want to? One farmer (who grew up in Sri Lanka) spent decades herding sheep in his van to the slaughterhouse. He said they knew what was coming, and would huddle in the back of the van.
One day he could not do it anymore. So he turned around, and drove them to an animal sanctuary, losing his income. The sanctuary now sends him pictures!
Read our post on plant-based alternatives to lamb chops!
Why Don’t Vegans Wear Wool?
It’s a grey area, and vegans prefer to avoid them. Sheep do need shearing (if not, it’s like putting another overcoat on each year). This can lead to them not seeing predators (wool over the eyes) and rain-soaked coats, and they can fall over.
Upturned sheep must be turned upright, or they can die. If you find a sheep on its back, right it up or it will die (stay with it until rain has drained away).
Although many farmers shear their sheep and just sell the wool (like Devon’s felted sheepskins) and The Vegetarian Wool Company (Wales), ‘big industry’ often causes issues:
- Shearing sheep too early (causes hypothermia)
- Having too many sheep (this means welfare is not as high priority – some slice of chunks of skin without painkillers, to avoid flystrike)
- Older sheep may enter the food or leather market
Organic cotton and hemp jumpers are just as warm, if made well. Read our post on Vegan alternatives to winter woollies!
Anti-Vegan Argument (over-run by sheep?)
Many people bring out this old chestnut. That if people did not eat lamb, we would be over-run by sheep. That’s not true at all.
For a start, sheep would not be bred as much (in nature, sheep rarely have multiple births, it’s the industry and demand for Easter lamb, that leads to so many being born).
Secondly, sheep in England are used more for grazing, and this would continue. One company generates income for farmers by mixing ‘sheep poo’ with recycled paper for greetings cards. What a great idea!
- Birthday Bleatings!
- I Love Ewe!
How to Help Rescued Sheep
Many sheep are abused in the animal food industry. They usually end up in the wonderful care of farm sanctuaries, where dedicated volunteers give them loving care and safety, for the rest of their days.
These wonderful places all run on shoestring budgets, so learn of ways to help farm sanctuaries (from donations to volunteering).
Help for Sheep & their Shepherds
Whether you run a sheep farm or sanctuary, here are a few helpers, to make life better for your sheep, and easier for you.
- Mudcontrol is recommended by farmers. It helps to stop the need for sinking concrete into the ground. Safer for animals and humans, it can help turn dangerous muddy ground, into safe paths.
- Sheepeasy is an engineer-designed invention, to make it easier to look after the feet of sheep, goats and alpacas, while keeping them calm. Sold in 3 sizes – just hook on a fence, hurdle or gate.
- Sheep Veterinary Society has info on preventing and treating foot rot. You can also take vet-endorsed courses for farmers at Homeopathy at Wellie Level.
- The Farming Community Network is an umbrella of charities that has helplines for struggling farmers of any animals. From providing free feed, to help with finances and tenancy.
- The Transfarmation Project can help with setting animal farmers up with free feed and advice to grow oats (a very profitable growing market, due to oat milk). Cherished family farms can then thrive, with remaining animals living lives in peace.
Issues with Live Transport
It does now hopefully appear that the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill introduced into Parliament in 2023 means a ban (with exports of cattle and pigs) will soon be law.
However it goes on abroad. In Australia, sheep have awful journeys to the Middle East. Sheep that are transported alive, only receive water and rest after 14 hours (and that’s if the law is upheld). Many die of thirst or heat exhaustion, before arrival at their destination.
Issues with Religious Slaughter
Religious slaughter (done without stunning) usually happens with older sheep, due to there being not much of a market for mutton. Vets at Compassion in World Farming says animals do suffer.
This would not impact religious beliefs, as it’s fine for Muslims and Jews to eat plant-based (like Prince Khaled bin alwaleed). Read vegan Middle Eastern recipe books!
The law is also a mess. CIWF says that many meats sold as Halal are stunned. And that some supermarkets sell it, but don’t label it (so people who don’t want it are buying it). Many ‘stunned sheep’ suffer the same fate, when electrical stunning fails.
