Survey will gather baseline data to inform best practice.
Sheep farmers are being urged to give their views on lambing to help researchers gain a better understanding of the challenges facing the sector.
The UK Lambing Survey 2026 is being led by the University of Nottingham and Fiona Lovatt of Flock Health Ltd, who also chairs the Sheep Antibiotic Guardian Group (SAGG).
Dr Lovatt said: "There isn’t a time in a sheep farmer’s calendar more stressful than the lambing season. In recent years, the pressure has risen further due to the additional threat of both Schmallenberg and Bluetongue viruses, disrupted vaccine supplies, unpredictable weather conditions and increasing scrutiny of what, for some, had become routine lambing-time practices.
“The UK sheep industry has a good reputation for responsible medicine stewardship, good practice and high welfare standards, which we are keen to maintain and defend. For this to happen, it is essential we gather baseline data on what takes place ‘on the ground’ or ‘in the lambing shed’. We are very grateful to everyone who supports this survey, both by filling it in and encouraging others to do so.”
The survey is supported by organisations from across the sheep industry and takes around 12 minutes to complete.
Findings will be made available to the public and used to directly inform the sheep section of the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Targets Task Force report (RUMA TTF).
Image (C) Janice Chen/Shutterstock.
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