Welfare v regulation – the choice facing producers
Sheep farmers are being forced to choose between the welfare of their animals and complying with tagging regulations, it has been claimed.
In many are as of the country the humid, warm and damp weather conditions have led to an explosion in the population of head flies which attack sheep around the head and horns leading to skin damage and possible maggot strike.
However, reports have indicated that attacks – which have been particularly vicious this year – have focused on the skin around ear tags, with some farmers forced to remove the tags which they believe are exacerbating the problem.
“On top of the worries of Brexit, a lot of sheep farmers are having problems with flies around ear tags and are having to cut them out on welfare grounds,” said one producer who wished to remain anonymous.
“With sheep inspections about to start, they are worried about what the implications on cross compliance may be.”
NFU Scotland yesterday said it was aware of the issue, with policy manager Jenny Brunton saying: “First and foremost, the welfare of livestock must be paramount. The warm, wet weather this year has provided ideal breeding conditions for flies and midges, creating challenging conditions for sheep.”
She said that there had been a spike in the incidence of strike in sheep and of problems with ear tags, especially where lambs had been newly tagged, with several members reporting tag sites in the ears being targeted by flies causing infection and extreme discomfort: “On welfare grounds, some farmers have been forced to remove tags but that has created concerns over compliance with the rules and a potential breach if subject to inspection.”
She said that the union had raised this issue with the Scottish Government, indicating the exceptional circumstances this year.
If farmers were removing tags on welfare grounds, Brunton said that it was a requirement to log this in the flock record and to place an order for replacement tags and stressed that sheep traceability should not be compromised.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government warned that before resorting to removing tags, the department advised anyone faced with this problem to use fly repellents for sheep, available at their vet or agricultural merchant.