Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Sheep

Water, Shade, Shelter and Climate

Water

Sheep shall be given appropriate feed and good quality clean water in sufficient quantities to maintain their body weight within the normal physiological range for their type, age, production status and sex, and their diet should be adequate to prevent disorders caused by faulty nutrition.

Generally sheep should not be deprived of feed or water for longer than 24 hours and they must not be deprived of feed or water for longer than 48 hours.

Factors which increase water requirement include lactation, pregnancy, hot and dry weather, sparse and dry feed.

Shade

Shade should be provided for sheep especially in hot, sunny weather. Activities such as mustering, transportation and prolonged yarding should be avoided in such conditions.

There is a greater requirement for shade after shearing and in areas where facial eczema occurs.

Shelter

Shelter should be provided for sheep especially in cold, wet, windy weather, at lambing and after shearing in wet weather (see Pre-lamb Shearing).

Climate

Flooding, unseasonal snowstorms and droughts can cause significant distress and losses in livestock. To lessen these effects, farms susceptible to climatic disasters should have contingency and action plans in place to ensure sheep are not unnecessarily exposed to risk. If an adverse event does occur, sheep should be given access to feed in a safe environment.