Welsh farmers dump 500 sheep
26 August 1999
Welsh farmers dump 500 sheep
By Johann Tasker
WELSH farmers have abandoned an estimated 500 sheep at an RSPCA animal centre in North Wales in protest at the collapse in lamb and ewe prices.
The sheep, which were driven in about 30 livestock trailers to the Bryn-y-Maen Animal Centre, Colwyn Bay, Clywd, today (Thursday) have been unloaded into a field.
An RSPCA spokesman said he had “absolutely no idea” what would be done with the sheep after the organisation failed to persuade the farmers to take the sheep home.
“Obviously weve got a bit of a problem,” the spokesman told Farmers Weekly.
The farmers hope their protest will draw attention to the slump in livestock prices, which has already seen Welsh producers abandon week-old calves in phone boxes.
Cull ewes are currently averaging about £10.40 each, compared with £18.70 this time last year, but there are reports that some sheep are selling for as little as £1.
Agriculture minister Nick Brown will meet Welsh assembly farm minister Christine Gwyther tomorrow (Friday) to discuss the crisis-hit livestock sector.
Ms Gwyther will travel to London, where she and Mr Brown will discuss the possibility of granting emergency financial aid to thousands of Welsh farmers.
But the UK government has already ruled out the introduction of a ewe disposal scheme to reduce the number of sheep.
Ministers maintain that such a move would be illegal under European Union state aid rules.
It is understood, however, that ministers are considering the introduction of a scheme to temporarily reduce the amount of sheep meat on the market.