Cost of livestock attacks across South West reaches MORE than £200,000
There is a plea to protect sheep and newborn lambs as more owners let their dogs run free
Last updated 6th Mar 2022
It has been revealed that over £200,000 worth of farm animals were killed or injured in the South West last year.
NFU Mutual has issued a warning about the cost of livestock attacks due to out of control dogs.
More owners are letting their dogs run free and there is a plea going out to protect sheep and newborn lambs.
NFU Mutual research released this week found almost three quarters of dog owners (73%) now allow their pets to roam off-lead in the countryside – up from (64%) a year ago. This is despite around half (49%) saying their dog doesn’t always come back when called.
The rural insurer estimates that farm animals worth £228,000 were injured or killed by dogs in the South West last year.
Rebecca Davidson, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “Behind the figures, these horrific attacks are causing unbearable suffering to farm animals and anxiety for farmers as they deal with the aftermath.
“There’s a new generation of dog owners whose pandemic puppies are coming of age and they don’t know how their dog is going to behave around livestock.
“It’s hard for people to imagine that their affectionate, family pet could injure or kill another animal and it’s not only physical attacks that can harm livestock. Even if a small dog chases sheep and they don’t make contact, they can separate lambs from their mothers or the distress and exhaustion from the chase can cause a pregnant ewe to die or miscarry.”
NFU Mutual statistics reveal that across the UK, farm animals worth an estimated £1.5m were injured and killed by dogs last year.
In England the worst hit regions by cost were the South East (£266,000), followed by the Midlands (£242,000) and the South West (£228,000).
Rebecca Davidson added: “Livestock attacks can have a huge impact on farmers’ livelihoods. While insurance can cover the cost of replacing stock killed and the treatment of injured animals, there is a knock-on effect on breeding programmes that can take years to overcome.
“We want people to enjoy the countryside and recognise the huge benefit it brings to people’s wellbeing. We’re simply asking for people to keep their dogs under control and on a lead.”
NFU Mutual is calling for dog owners to:
• Keep dogs on the lead when walking in rural areas where livestock are kept but let go of the lead if chased by cattle
• Be aware that even small dogs can cause the distress, injury and death of farm animals
• Report attacks by dogs to the police or local farmers
• Don’t let dogs loose unsupervised in gardens near livestock fields – many attacks are caused by dogs which escape and attack sheep grazing nearby