8 Surprising Facts About Sheep: Rethinking Sheep Farming

Many people believe that sheep are simple, unfeeling animals who simply follow the herd. Calling someone “a sheep” is not a compliment, referring to someone who doesn’t think for themselves, is timid, easily influenced, or not an individual.

But the truth about sheep is very different. They are individuals, just like we are. Sheep have a rich emotional life and they are far more intelligent than we may think.

A study conducted by animal rights researchers and activists Lori Marino and Debra Merskin was published in the journal Animal Sentience and shows that sheep feel, think, and have complex social relationships.

More Than A Woollen Sweater

Sentience

Sheep don’t simply exist on this earth – they experience it. They feel pleasure and suffering, experience pain or curiosity. A sheep will shudder with fear, or close their eyes in pleasure when brushed or cuddled. Sheep are not indifferent or passive in this world that we share: they have a broad range of experiences ranging from suffering to joy – just like we do.

Family Bonds

Every living thing is an emotional universe. When a mother sheep loses her lambs, she can spend days searching, bleating inconsolably. When she’s with her friends, she can be happy and relaxed. Her emotional universe is no less than that of a dog, a cat, or us.

Isolation

Sheep are never alone by choice. They are deeply social animals, forming bonds, friendships, and even rivalries – just like people do. They recognize each other and miss each other during absence. An isolated sheep doesn’t just feel lonely – she feels broken. Because her emotional well-being depends on social contact, a solitary existence is a miserable existence.

Learning and Adaptability

Far from the cliché of the mindless herd animal, sheep explore, learn, and solve problems. Sheep can find alternative paths, remember routes, and adapt to new environments. The learning capacity of sheep demonstrates an active, alert, and constantly evolving mind.

The Intelligence We Don’t Want to See

Memory and Recognition

Sheep remember human faces for years. They recognize members of their group, even if they have been separated for a long time. This capacity for social memory suggests a rich inner world, where past experiences and social relationships leave their mark.

Perception and Awareness

Sheep see, hear, and feel. They can distinguish facial expressions, tones of voice, and subtle movements. A sheep can sense whether we are calm or nervous and react accordingly. They are not unaware of our body language – we simply have not learned to interpret their responses.

Empathy and Bonding

A sheep can tell if another sheep is sad or distressed. They will also respond – by staying close and making gentle sounds. This isn’t empty instinct: it’s empathy. It’s a connection that many only like to attribute to the human experience. Science is only just beginning to understand the depth of this bond between individuals of other species.

Autonomy and Decision-Making

Given the opportunity, sheep make decisions: they choose which path to follow, which companions to approach, when to eat. They are not faceless members of a herd, but individuals with their own preferences and desires. Isn’t this enough to make us reconsider the way we treat them, and how society goes against their will?

So What Does This Mean?

Recognizing the individuality, intelligence, and sensitivity of sheep raises serious ethical questions about how they are treated in sheep farming and in research. We need to question how we can justify treating a sentient being like an object.

Sheep are not only exploited for their meat in sheep farming. For dairy production – especially cheese – it is common to separate a lamb from her mother shortly after birth. This common sheep farming practice causes suffering to both the lamb and her mother.

What about wool? The pain of shearing is often minimized and presented as a purely harmless process. However, during shearing, many sheep are terrified, stressed and injured, and these wounds can often become infected. Furthermore, due to genetic selection, sheep now produce far more wool than they naturally need, which can cause them to die of heatstroke in the summer.

So, if we have access to other fabrics that are free from the exploitation of these individuals – why not opt ​​for cotton, hemp, bamboo, or (recycled) synthetic materials instead of wool? And if we can eat healthy, plant-based foods, why not stop using sheep for meat and dairy?

In Conclusion

Sheep are not resources or objects, they are not commodities wrapped in wool for us to take. Sheep are sentient beings, with emotions, complex memories, and the ability to form real bonds. They are mothers, friends, explorers, aware of themselves and the world around them.

If we can feed and clothe ourselves and live without harming them, why wouldn’t we do that?

Choosing compassion isn’t a sacrifice: it’s an opportunity. It’s a chance to see other animals as they deserve to be seen: not for what they can give us, but for who they are.

How can you help sheep?

• By choosing a plant-based diet.
• By saying no to wool and other animal products in clothing and cosmetics.
• By joining the vegan movement. Because when people come together and make small choices rooted in empathy, we can change the world.

Join over 1 million people who have already made positive, compassionate changes in their lives! Sign up to Challenge 22 for free plant-based support from mentors and dietitians. See you in the group!

References

Marino, L., & Merskin, D. (2019). Intelligence, complexity, and individuality in sheep. Animal Sentience, 4(25), 1. https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/animsent/vol4/iss25/1/