Sheep Farms in the UK

Number of Sheep-Raising Farms

Great Britain’s annual Sheep and Goat Inventory (winter 2022/23) found that 66,799 farm holdings kept sheep. Broken down by nation, these holdings were:

CountrySheep Holdings England38,931 Scotland14,741 Wales13,127 Total66,799

England’s 38,931 holdings represent the lion’s share of the British flock, with upland and lowland farms alike contributing to the total.

By comparison, the UK had 209,000 total agricultural holdings in 2023, meaning roughly 32% of all farms in Great Britain keep sheep.

The Stratified Sheep Production System

The UK’s sheep sector is built around a three-tier “stratified” system that plays to each region’s geography and each breed’s strengths:

• Hill Tier
  • Typical breeds: Welsh Mountain, Swaledale, Scottish Blackface, Cheviots
  • Traits: ultra‐hardy, thick-coated, excellent mothers
  • Role: maintain pure hill-bred ewes; surplus lambs and wethers sold on for finishing

• Upland Tier
  • Typical breeds: Mule crosses (hill ewe × Bluefaced Leicester)
  • Traits: combines hill ewe maternal instincts with upland prolificacy
  • Role: produce breeding females (Mules) for lowland systems; some lambs sold for meat

• Lowland Tier
  • Typical breeds: Texel, Suffolk, Charollais
  • Traits: fast-growing, heavier carcass, highly feed‐efficient
  • Role: terminal sire breeds mated to Mule ewes; lambs reared primarily for meat

Key Farming Practices

Grazing Management

• Outdoor Pasture
  Most ewes spend their lives grazing permanent or temporary grassland.
  Rotational grazing or strip-grazing helps optimise forage use and reduce parasite burdens.

• Semi-Intensive Feeding
  In early spring and late autumn, supplementary feed (hay, silage, cereals) is provided to maintain weight and body condition.

Indoor Finishing

Although the majority of the flock is raised outdoors, many hill-bred lambs are moved into finishing sheds for rapid weight gain before slaughter:

• Housing
  Slatted or straw-bedded sheds, often for 10–12 weeks, allow higher stocking densities.
• Stocking Density
  Industry guidelines permit up to 1 lamb per 0.7 m² after shearing to maximise space in the shed.
• Welfare Risks
  Overcrowding and indoor dung accumulation can lead to lameness and respiratory issues.

Lifecycle and Flock Management

• Spring Lambing
  The vast majority of lambs are born in March–May, taking advantage of rising temperatures and grass growth.
• Cross-Breeding Strategies
  Producers select sire lines for desired traits—maternal, prolificacy, growth rate—and adjust strategies across the three tiers.
• Shearing and Wool
  Annual shearing is essential; modern breeds produce so much fleece that failure to shear can cause overheating and parasite problems.

Sheep-raising in the UK combines centuries-old traditions with modern breeding, pasture management, and finishing systems—each calibrated to local terrain, climate, and market demands. Whether you’re curious about the economics of hill farming or the latest welfare guidelines in finishing sheds, the UK’s stratified model remains one of the world’s most efficient and regionally adapted sheep production systems.