Price when sold: £1
MARCH 2023
SURVEY SHOWS ATTACK RISKS
A new survey has found alarming ignorance among pet owners of the risks their animals potentially pose to livestock.
Many dog owners believe their pets would never attack farm animals, the research from NFU Mutual reveals. NFU Mutual’s latest survey of more than 1,100 dog owners found despite 64 per cent of owners admitting their dogs chase animals, almost half believe their dog was not capable of injuring or killing livestock. The survey found many dog owners are unaware that even if their pet doesn’t make contact with a sheep, the distress and exhaustion caused by being chased can trigger a pregnant ewe to die or miscarry. Young lambs can also become separated from their mothers. Nearly two thirds of owners said they let their dog roam off-lead in the countryside. However, almost four in ten admit that their pets do not always come back when called. The harsh reality of some dog owners’ failure to control their pets is evident in the latest figures based on claims data from NFU Mutual. The rural insurer estimates farm animals worth £313,723 were severely injured or killed by dogs in the Midlands in 2022. That figure makes the Midlands the worst affected English region by cost and a 4.6 per cent rise on the previous year.
BY IAIN ST JOHN
Across the UK, dog attacks on farm animals were estimated to cost £1.8m in 2022. Hannah Binns, NFU mutual rural affairs specialist, said: “It’s clear that a significant number of dog owners in the Midlands are blinded by their love for their pets. “They believe that they would never chase, attack or kill livestock. “We’ve heard reports from farmers that dog walkers are becoming more distracted, often on their mobile phones with their pets out of sight, and are seemingly unaware of the carnage their dog could cause. “The Covid-19 pandemic saw a boom in dog ownership as many people purchased puppies for the first time. “Yet these may not have been trained properly or be familiar with farm animals. “It is concerning that these now fully-grown dogs will be visiting farmland as we get into spring at a time when pregnant ewes and newborn lambs are vulnerable. “Farmers near cities, towns and our many tourist areas are also living in fear of repeat attacks, which cause horrific suffering to sheep and can traumatise their families as they deal with the aftermath. “That is why we are calling for dog owners to be responsible and accept their pets, however friendly, are capable of chasing and attacking farm animals and should be kept on a lead when walked anywhere near livestock.”
Store is cream of crop
Company’s award delight
John Smith, left, and Matt Mulligan
Rea Valley Tractors have been awarded JCB Agriculture’s Heavyline growth dealer of the year for 2022. The award was presented to RVT’s managing director Matt Mulligan by John Smith, managing director of JCB Agriculture, at the Annual Dealer Conference. The dealer conference took place at the JCB world headquarters at Rocester. Rea Valley Tractors was recognised as having the largest sales growth for Fastracs and Wheeled Loading Shovels across the UK. l RVT sponsors the Machinery section of The Farmer, starting on Page 21 John Vine with wife Marie, commercial director at news wholesaler Smiths News Simon Gage, left, and awards ceremony host TV presenter Naga Munchetty
A commitment to sustainability and local produce, including introducing a milk vending machine, has earned a Shropshire store a top award. Vine & Co in Church Stretton was named Sustainable Retailer of the Year at the exclusive 2023 Fed Awards. The glittering ceremony was hosted by BBC presenter Naga Munchetty at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel by the Federation of Independent Retailers. Store owner John Vine said milk for the vending machine is supplied by Prop-
er Good Dairy, a farm just four miles from the shop. John said: “From when the cows have been milked until it’s in our shop, it only takes three hours. We have a new tank put in every day. “The idea is that our customers bring their own glass bottle to be filled by the machine. We also sell these in our shop if it’s your first time using the machine, or you’ve forgotten the bottle. Glass milk bottles are a great way to reduce the amount of plastic you use.” l See inside for more about the store
Dog research The impact of rural dog theft is being examined by a Harper Adams University veterinary bioscience student as his final year research project. Adam Rendall wants to find out how the crime is specifically affecting people who live in the countryside and has launched a survey. The survey can be found at harper-adams.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/working-dogtheft-survey-2022
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Jamie Smith is our Senior Account Executive at the Builth Wells office 23-118_V2