[lou13]

Hi! I have found an in lamb Hampshire Down ewe that is due to lamb in three weeks (mid december). Would it be risky travelling with it. The journey is about an hour and a half (76 miles). I have the possibility of using a pickup, livestock trailer or horse trailer. Would I risk abortion by collecting it? I really want it but it may be too late to transport. What are your views on this? Thanks,
lou13

[Old Shep]

Defra state that you cannot transport sheep within 15 days of their due date, so legally you are OK.  It's a long journey though for a heavily pregnant ewe :-(

[Foobar]

And would you be transporting it on it's own? as that would increase the stress on the animal too.
If you do transport it I would do so with another animal for company (maybe take a couple of your own), and make sure they have limited but not tight space, just so that they can't get thrown about en-route.

[Yeoman]

http://www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/keeping-animals/welfare/during-transport/

[Hillview Farm]

Can you leave the ewe where she is until she's lambed?

[SallyintNorth]

And would you be transporting it on it's own? as that would increase the stress on the animal too.
If you do transport it I would do so with another animal for company (maybe take a couple of your own), and make sure they have limited but not tight space, just so that they can't get thrown about en-route.

Better to make it other sheep she knows, it's also stressful being put with strange sheep.  So buy two or three together and run them together.

We generally try to buy sheep in groups, and not split them up.  Occasionally that doesn't work, one has to join a new group on her own, and it always takes ages for her to settle in and make some friends.  Often that sheep will always be a bit of a loner.

Personally I would not transport such a heavily pregnant ewe such a distance, no.

[devonlad]

technically as others have said its just about allowable- but barely- I certainly wouldn't risk it myself