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Farmer Oliver East is losing sheep to deadly dog attacks every week.
This winter alone, more than 20 of his sheep have been killed – the last attack only days ago.
Mr East, from Buckinghamshire, told Sky News he discovered one of his ewes dead near a footpath.
“It’s back legs were severely mauled, it had its ears pulled off, and its throat was pulled out,” he said.
“It’s becoming a weekly occurrence, if not twice a week now.”
Not only do these incidents carry an emotional impact, but they also have significant financial implications.
Increasing numbers of deadly dog attacks on livestock are forcing farmers to “change the way they live and farm”, leading rural insurer NFU Mutual has warned, costing the industry millions of pounds a year.
Mr East estimates that with each sheep that is killed, he loses £500.
“If it carries on the way it is going, I am already looking at potentially downsizing my ewe flock, which is already a financial loss to me,” he said.
“I just can’t mentally and physically go through losing this many ewes. It’s mentally debilitating.”
‘Harrowing’ incidents cost industry millions
Even attacks that don’t lead to death can be distressing.
The stress of being chased by dogs can cause death, and can result in pregnant ewes aborting their lambs.
Dog attacks on livestock cost the industry more than a million pounds every year.
Last year, the cost of dog attacks on livestock cost £1.8m, up from £1.3m in 2020, according to NFU Mutual data.
Rebecca Davidson, NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist, told Sky News: “Sadly, we hear harrowing accounts of these types of cases every other day.
“Behind those figures, there’s obviously tremendous concern over for farmers and their livelihoods, also the emotional impact for them.
“Many of them are being forced to change the way they live and farm.”
Read more:
What’s behind rise in deadly…
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