Three Things

Of the many things salient to an improvement in sheep’s welfare, three stand out: sentience; live exports; rough handling. One of them is fundamental and paramount. It is sentience. With human recognition of sheep’s sentience, human behaviour must change accordingly. The totality of human’s treatment of sheep must show cognisance that sheep are sentient. As part of this, two things need to stop: live exports; rough handling. If sheep are accepted to be sentient - to have feelings and to experience emotions - live exports of sheep must be seen as unacceptable and obsolete, and rough handling of sheep must be regarded as uncaring, and not to be allowed.

In the UK, from the 25th May 2023 when the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act came into force, the sentience of sheep - among other animals - has been recognised in law. Legal recognition that sheep are sentient beings is required throughout the world. But this is not enough in itself. The knowledge that sheep are sentient needs to be manifested by humans in their activity and encounter with sheep, every day and everywhere.  

Until that sheep are sentient is not just shown as being known but the knowledge is also demonstrated as being accepted and is acted upon - and thus humans actually are treating sheep more kindly and considerately and commensurately with sheep’s sentience - sheep’s welfare and wellbeing will not improve.

Sheep likely suffer much, physically and emotionally, during being exported live. In the UK on the 20th May this year the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act received Royal Assent. This Act bans live exports from or through Great Britain of ‘relevant’ livestock for fattening and slaughter. Some other countries have moved, or are moving, to end live exports. But, and despite the existence of Ban Live Exports International Awareness Day (14th June), live exports are still happening around the world. Australia, for example, is a major exporter of live animals but it is not to end live exports of sheep by sea until 1st May 2028.

Rough handling of sheep seems very widespread and prevalent. For it to cease will require education and acceptance throughout the sheep farming world that sheep are sentient. Even more fundamentally, alterations of human perspective on sheep are demanded: to regard sheep more highly, and truly; to no longer see sheep as items for humans’ use. 

These three things: sentience, live exports, rough handling. One for cognisance and attention; two for stopping in response.