Lambing season sheep mortality at five-year low
Sheep mortality during the 2018 lambing season was the worst for five years, according to an assessment by the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCO) – and possibly the worst since the company started to track trend lines back in 2011.
While admitting that the statistic was not based on actual animal numbers – as some collections are based on a weight or volume system and a proportion of animals collected do not go through the NFSCO system – the organisation said that the estimates gave the only guide to fallen stock trends in the UK.
Compared with average losses since 2011 the estimated figures show that: recorded lamb losses across the UK (excluding those recorded on a volume basis) were the highest at over 250,000, and 30 per cent higher than the average; adult losses were also the highest for five years, and also a third higher; unassigned losses (those allocated on a weight or a volume basis) were also around 10 per cent more than average.
Chairman of NFSCO, Michael Seals, said the figures confirmed that 2018 lambing season was certainly the worst season since 2013, and suggested that it was the worst since data was collected:
“Lambing time was an extremely challenging time for sheep farmers and for the 100 or so collectors whom NFSCO works with, and who worked hard to maintain their excellent service levels during some of the worse weather the UK has seen in years.
“The fallen stock collectors are an important, ever present, but often overlooked cog in the livestock supply chain, and it is only in times of difficulty like this year where their work comes to the fore. I and the NFSCO board would like to formally recognise them, and thank them for their work during this difficult season.”
Phil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, said that despite the horrendous losses, the service provided by NFSCO and its contractors to the industry should be commended.