CONCERNS FOR SHEEP
SENTIENCE
Sheep are sentient. Recognition of this needs to be demonstrated by humans in how they view and treat sheep.
WELFARE
For long, the word welfare has been the standard word used, connected to the word animal, to represent concern or worry about the wellbeing of animals, and to define the steps towards the improvement of animals’ existence. Animal welfare is regarded as the concept, activity, and aim, and so sheep welfare is. But does this bring an adequate outcome for animals? Because, despite the long existence of ‘animal welfare’, sheep, and non-human animals, do not yet have nearly high enough a level of care and existence.
SPECIESISM
Humans seeing themselves as superior to non-human animals is speciesism. The outlook much characterises how humans regard and treat sheep.
RIGHTS
Animal welfare has featured for over 200 years. But many sheep are still not treated as well as they should be. Therefore, sheep need legal rights to good attitude and behaviour from humans. Furthermore, sheep need legal rights not to be seen as humans’ property and as their items for use.
TRUTH TO THEIR NATURE
Treatment of sheep must take account of their nature and predilections.
ROUGH HANDLING
As prey animals, gentle and stoical by nature, and of small enough size to be lifted and carried by humans, sheep are vulnerable to rough handling by people. Not valuing sheep, or being rushed, can be conducive to rough handling.
BEING USED
A much-pertaining outlook is that sheep are items for humans’ use. A radical change of viewpoint is needed, to see sheep as creatures of value and appeal for themselves and who are not items to be used by humans.
AT RISK
As small and prey creatures, sheep are generally at risk. Particular risky situations for sheep are: being alone; being handled, moved, and transported; being worried by predators, for example dogs off the lead.
TRUST AND GENTLENESS
Sheep are gentle. Sheep should not trust humans - at least not until a person has entirely proved to the sheep that they can be trusted. But even if a sheep has decided that a human can be trusted they should always maintain guard. They should stay wary. So often, any trust that is given by sheep to people is abused.
VALUE ASSESSMENT
The criterion by which sheep farmers assess the value of sheep primarily appears to be economic. They view sheep as an entity from which to earn income. The sheep is regarded as a product. By contrast, sheep’s intrinsic value is either not noted or is not regarded as important.
LENGTH OF LIFE
The length of life of sheep is at the behest and decision of humans. If we regard sheep highly, we should have them in our world for the pleasure of their company. And if we wish them to have roles, these can be chosen on basis of what is suitable and fine in every way for sheep, as well as being helpful for us. The good example is conservation grazing.
TRANSPORTATION AND JOURNEY
Live sheep are taken to shows, sales and events in trailers or other vehicles. They may be taken onwards elsewhere in different vehicles or lorries, by strangers, and in company of unknown sheep. Some sheep are moved overseas in ships, and journeys can be long. Risks of travel include rough handling, overcrowding, insanitary conditions, insufficient food and drinking water, injury or death.
ONLY YOUNG
Many lambs die young, not being allowed to live beyond a year. The reason is that when sheep is a foodstuff it is most often consumed at lamb stage rather than as mutton. So, unless a lamb is required to breed, it is unlikely to achieve adulthood, rather just experiencing infancy.
SALES AND SHOWS
The normal location of sheep is rural pasture. For reaching sheep sales and shows, a journey will have happened. At sheep sales and shows, people crowd, and there is a lot at stake. For ring sales, quick movement of sheep through ‘the system’ is the requirement. Overall, an arena likely to be stressful for sheep and where rough handling is a risk or likelihood.
SLAUGHTER
​Sheep are infrequently permitted to live their full life span. When their human-chosen purpose is for attaining, to be meat, or when as breeders they are past optimum, they will go to slaughter. They will only be likely to have natural extent of life if they are treasured for themselves. What happens in the slaughter house is not visible to the general public.
BEING SOLO
Sheep do not like being on their own. If they are without the -some - protection of being with others they are in a vulnerable situation. Being alone gives sheep stress.
FOOD
​As long as humans eat lambs and sheep, to comprise foodstuffs for people many sheep will die before their natural span of life is complete. This type of shortening of the life of lambs and sheep can be ceased through humans eating plant-based food.
MALTREATMENT
Absence of respect and affection for sheep can be the cause of maltreatment of sheep. Or, a lack of understanding of sheep’s ways and nature can be the reason for sheep to be treated badly. Or, hurrying to do a sheep task can bring about maltreatment, because of attention and care not having been adequate.
SHEARING
It is necessary for sheep’s welfare that shearing of its fleece should happen. But shearing also represents danger for sheep. If the shearer does not like sheep, they may not treat them as well in the process as they should. Also, shearers are usually paid by number of sheep shorn, so there is risk of injury to the sheep due to its shearing being done too hurriedly. The other reason for sheep to be shorn is human benefit; humans want to obtain sheep’s fleece to serve as a product, wool.
WORRYING BY DOGS
To dogs, sheep are prey. It is the responsibility of all dog owners to ensure that their dogs are always on leads in proximity to sheep. A loose dog can chase, injure, maul, kill, sheep and lambs. Worrying by dogs will cause sheep immense stress. In running away from dogs, sheep can get injured or killed by running into another situation of danger. For noting is that sheepdogs are well-trained to not succumb to their natural instincts to chase sheep.
RECREATION AND LEISURE
Sheep inhabit the countryside. Humans deploy the countryside for purposes of recreation and leisure. They may not have awareness of sheep and sheep farming. It can be that, from ignorance, or lack of caring about sheep, humans will do things in rural areas that might cause harm to sheep.
CRUELTY
Cruelty to sheep has two forms. Deliberate cruelty to sheep stems from: absence of care or respect for sheep; sheep’s accessibility, through size and temperament. Unwitting cruelty to sheep comes from lack of knowledge about sheep.
WAR AND CONFLICT
Inadvertently, and through no fault of their own, sheep may find themselves in the midst of areas of war or conflict. They will be innocent victims, stressed by noise and disturbance, at risk of injury or death.
ENTERTAINING
Sheep have appeal - especially as lambs, and are approachable. They are ubiquitous, do not usually cost much, and are capable of being trained. Because of this, sheep can be deployed as items of visitor attractions. At such venues the sheep can be put to do things that are inappropriate; these may be against their nature, and dignity, and possibly cruel too.
ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION
On what humans’ stance on sheep is, on how humans view sheep, depends the manner of treatment which sheep receive. It appears that the attitude of humans is not to value sheep highly. Therefore, until attitudes and perceptions alter to see sheep more truly, sheep are unlikely to be treated in the highest, and most understanding of their nature, way.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Among potential threats to sheep from climate change are these. Due to drought and heat: inadequate pasture; lack of supplementary plant-based foodstuffs; insufficient supply of drinking-water; little or no natural shelter. Due to flooding: loss of food; loss of habitat. Due to altered weather conditions: not good enough shelter. Due to altered or extreme climate: different diseases.
CHANGE MINDS
An altered mindset about sheep is required from the world’s human population. With it now known that sheep are sentient, that they have feelings and emotions, how they are seen and treated by humans must alter in accordance with that knowledge.
ENFORCEMENT AND MONITORING
For ensuring the welfare of sheep, it is not enough for law and regulation to exist, and be sufficient. Monitoring is required, of enough amount. And it is needed for law and regulation to always be enforced.
EDUCATION
In the aim to improve sheep’s lot, education about them - about the life they have, about the life they ought to have - is a necessity. There are risks to the provision of sheep information that is entirely accurate in these following instances: if education is not an only aim but entertainment is an objective too; if education is decided to be effected by the medium of entertainment.