East farmer concerned for his lambs amid rise in dog attacks
With the lambing season underway, there's worries over the potential threat off-lead dogs pose
A farmer in the East tells us he's concerned over the rise in dog attacks in recent years, which could soon cost the lives of his new-born lambs.
Angus MacKay works on Symondshyde Farm, where he looks after over 600 ewes on 400 acres of grazing land, spread across 30 fields.
Every year, his ewes give birth to around 1000 lambs.
Whilst farmers monitor the animals closely during and after pregnancy, he says a recent increase of dog attacks on his livestock is raising concerns over the safety and welfare of the babies.
"The risk of dog attacks is ever present for us"
Mr MacKay said: "The risk of dog attacks is ever present for us and after and during lambing it's an even bigger problem.
"Obviously small lambs are much more frail and much more prone to dog attacks becoming a much bigger problem just because the lambs are more fragile."
The increase is attacks on his animals is believed to be partly caused by a rise in dog ownership during the coronavirus lockdown.
Since 2016, Mr MacKay's lost around 25 ewes to dog attacks, which he tells us has cost his farm around £15,000.
The concern remains around the lambing season, where complications can arise if dogs chase a group on a field, even if the dogs don't bite the animal.
Mr MacKay said: "If the group of sheep get scared in the field you can end up with a situation where the ewes and lambs get crushed up in a corner and end up crushing some of the lambs.
"Lambs are more fragile"
"Lambs have very low energy reserves, they're relying on energy from mum every time they feed, so it's a lot easier for them to run out of energy and steam and if they get scared and chased and run around they've lost their shelter and lost their energy."
Although crushing and exhausting the energy reserves of a lamb are the biggest concerns, Mr MacKay indicated a common complication whereby a chase can lead the mother not to recognise its baby, causing the mother to abandon its lamb.
"It's what we call mismothering, where the mother sheep lose their lambs in the field because they've been chased around and in confusion have lost their lambs, and there are unfortunately situations where the ewe and lambs never quite make it back together again and we have to hand-rear the lamb", added Mr MacKay.
He is one of many farmers now urging dog owners to keep their pets on leads around livestock, especially with the lambing season under way.
Across the country, the NFU reports farm animals worth an estimated £2.4 million were severely injured or killed by dogs in 2023, which is up nearly 30% from the previous year.