We have bred sheep to have larger and heavier fleeces, giving us more wool per animal. The weight of these fleeces can cause them to tip over on to their backs and makes it exceptionally difficult to get back up. If a sheep is left on its back and cannot get up, it is vulnerable to attacks from crows and other birds. Sadly, in a lot of cases this means a slow and painful death for the sheep.
A sheep's center of gravity is at the shoulders, and pregnancy can make her feel off balance as she heads closer to lambing. This can cause her to fall over. When a heavily pregnant sheep tips over, the sheer size of her abdomen may cause her to roll further onto her back, making it even more difficult to get up.
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