Sheep & Lambs:
- Sheep spend much of their lives outdoors and are very vulnerable to the weather.
- Many sheep and lambs die from exposure in snow and freezing temperatures. See: ‘The Suffering of Farmed Sheep’ – from Animal Aid’s website.
- Male lambs are castrated and lambs of both sexes have their tails docked.
- Lambs are killed for meat, and adult sheep are used for wool and for breeding purposes.
- Sheep are intelligent animals capable of a range of emotions.
- Lambs are usually slaughtered when they are around 6 months old. The natural lifespan of a sheep is 10-12 years.
Related links:
- Castration condemned by government experts – Mail Online
- ‘Shear Destruction: Wool, Fashion and the Biodiversity Crisis’
Goats:
- There are more than 300 goat farms in Ireland.
- Herd sizes range from 10 to 750 animals.
- Goats are reared indoors in sheds with little or no access to the outdoors.
- Male goats are useless to the industry and are slaughtered immediately after birth (see: link).
- Female goats are made pregnant so that they will produce milk after giving birth. This milk is used in the making of goat’s cheese.
Related links:
- A mother’s grief – video
- The suffering of farmed goats – from Animal Aid
