Driving to a kinder world…

Updated July 4, 2024

Meeting in the carpark of a service station in a rural country town, two tiny 3-day-old lambs were surrendered into our care. Bentley and Aston Martin are their names.

Yet, despite their tender age, they had already endured so much hardship. With the loss of their dear mumma already running through their hearts, winter here in Australia wreaked its own kind of coldness – and so too does our wanting animal protection laws that enables all of this to legally happen.

Many times, we are asked why so many lambs are born at this time of year. Whilst there are many prongs to this answer, part of it lies in the conditions in which they are born and their mummas are in. Pastures are poor, and supplementary feeding may not happen. Shelter is often inadequate, and kindness and care are not the lived experiences of most farmed animals.

Most sheep are short day breeders. That is, the ewes come into season when triggered by shorter hours of daylight. In Australia, this occurs post-mid-December, with the peak time for conception being March through May. With the gestation period for female sheep being around 5 months those who conceive early will lamb in May or June. Lambing in winter months is not so problematic in countries such as England, where the “Good Shepherd” tends their flock, supplements their feed, and regularly checks in on their charges.

Those ewes who have been deliberately joined (mated) to lamb in winter are done so their offspring, those who make it that is, can take advantage of the fertile pastures that come with spring. Yet this subjects those vulnerable babes, with their immature immune systems to the harshest of conditions.

Often, farmers will hold off mating a ram with his ewes to ensure lambs “drop” in kinder weather, such as August – October. It is for this reason we tend not to see many orphans arrive at this time, despite the numbers of them being born.

The greatest cause of lamb deaths in Australia – hypothermia and starvation.

Lambs are born with a layer of brown fat, also known as adipose fat. This is quickly burned up in the first few hours post-birth. It is designed to give the babies enough energy to find their mumma’s breast and suckle her life-enhancing colostrum. Should some adversity fall, and the lamb fail to drink, they are at a very real risk of hypothermia and starvation. The greatest cause of lamb deaths in Australia.

And so as driving rains keep you sheltered in the warmth of your home this winter, please spare a thought for the countless little lambs who are not as fortunate as Bentley and Aston Martin – please see the urgent imperative for us all to drive for a kinder world for them.