Tory fury at sheep husbandry ‘slur
8 February 2001
Tory fury at sheep husbandry ‘slur’
By FWi staff
A WELSH Assembly member has been accused of casting a slur on farmers with suggestions that they lose their sheep through bad husbandry.
During an Agriculture Committee debate on hunting on Wednesday (07 February), Labour AM Lorraine Barrett referred to a report on fox predation on lambs.
The report, by Ralph Cook of Wales Alliance Against Cruel Sports, claims that far more sheep are lost to ineffective husbandry than to foxes.
It argues that the unwillingness of a ewe to stand and defend its lamb is indicative of poor condition and an inability to rear it successfully.
The report states that fate of the lamb, whether it be killed by a fox or falling victim to malnutrition is, at least in part, indicative of a poor stockmanship.
Furious Tory agriculture spokesman Peter Rogers has now demanded that Ms Barrett apologises to Welsh farmers.
He said: “I am disgusted at the slur on Welsh farmers by Lorraine Barrett.
“To suggest that sheep farmers lose their sheep through bad husbandry is an absolute disgrace.
“This shows just how much she knows about the problems facing rural Wales.”