Abstract: A study was conducted to investigate effects of environmental enrichment and stocking density on performance，serum cortisol concentrations, meat quality and sarcous pH of sheep, twenty four small tail han sheep were assigned to three treatments: ①confinement in a pen (A); ②confinement in a pen with a yard (B); ③confinement in a pen with a yard and environmental enrichment as well (C).The results showed that environmental enrichment and stocking density had no significant effects on growth performances(P>0.05), although they tended to improve it. A highly significant difference in surface cleanness existed among groups (P<0.01) and at Day 37, environmental enrichment and stocking density significantly significantly decreased serum cortisol concentration (P<0.05). Environmental enrichment and high stocking density did not affect meat yield and pH 45 min, pHult of sarcous (P>0.05). The results indicated that environmental enrichment and stocking density can improve sheep welfare.

Key words: small tail han sheep; welfare; environmental enrichment; stocking density