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A new report has revealed that farmers and livestock continue to be subjected to the 'trauma and horror' of dog attacks on-farm.

NFU Mutual has released new data on livestock worrying costs today (February 20), with British farmers left footing a bill estimated to be worth up to £1.8 million in 2024. 

According to the rural insurer, incidents were down by 26% when taking a collective view of the UK as a whole, compared to the £2.4m cost farmers experienced in 2023.

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More specific data revealed that costs were also down in Wales and Scotland by 64% and 17% respectively. 

Íæż½ã½ã in Wales were paying £569,000 less than they were in 2023 for livestock worrying crimes, while there was a £21,000 reduction for farmers in Scotland.

However, there was a 48% increase for farmers in Northern Ireland, who were left paying £71,000 more in 2024 than they were in 2023.

In eastern England, the cost of dog attacks spiralled by 187%, up by £63,000, with an increase in the Midlands as well. 

Dog owners were also provided with the opportunity to participate in a survey by the farm insurance company last year. 

Of the 1,136 dog owners surveyed, 43% said their pet was capable of causing death or injury to livestock. 

More than 57% revealed that they let their dogs off lead in the countryside and only 40% admitted their pet always comes back when recalled.  

488 respondents said their dog was capable of causing the death or injury of livestock, which was a rise of 11% compared to the previous year's survey.

And if present at an attack, just over half said they would intervene to stop their dogs from worrying livestock.

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Only 20% said they would tell a farmer about an incident, and 17% would call the police. 

Nine in 10 people revealed they would welcome tougher legislation on livestock worrying in England and Wales.  

It comes as Chester South and Eddisbury MP Aphra Brandreth's private members' bill, the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill, is making its way through Parliament to help police deal with dog attacks on livestock.

Hannah Binns, NFU Mutual's rural affairs specialist, reflected on the results and how incidents continue to leave an imprint on farmer's health and finances.

"It is encouraging to see the estimated cost of livestock worrying fall in 2024, following NFU Mutual campaigning alongside industry efforts to increase awareness among dog owners," Ms Binns added.

"But as lambing season gets underway, a time of year when pregnant ewes and newborn lambs are vulnerable, it is important that dog owners do not get complacent.  

"Íæż½ã½ã across the UK are living in fear of repeat attacks, which cause horrific suffering to livestock and can traumatise all involved in dealing with the aftermath.

"Anecdotally, we have heard of many incidents where dogs have injured and killed sheep and the owner is powerless to stop it or is nowhere to be seen.  

"Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to dog attacks on livestock; regardless of size, breed or temperament, all dogs are capable of chasing, injuring and killing farm animals.

"It is vital dog owners act responsibly and keep their pets on leads wherever livestock may be nearby to prevent these needless attacks.  

"It is crucial people accept responsibility for their dog if there is an incident and report it, to a local farmer and the police, so that any injured animals are not left suffering in pain."  

Ulster Íæż½ã½ã' Union

UFU deputy-president John McLenaghan said he was frustrated that farmers in Northern Ireland are continuing to experience the pain of livestock worrying incidents.

"It [livestock worrying] is an issue that causes constant stress and trauma for our farmers, and to see that the cost of dog attacks on livestock in 2024 increased by almost half compared to 2023, is devastating," Mr McLenaghan added.

"Behind every one of those livestock worrying cases is a farm family that has suffered emotionally and financially, whilst being left with the constant worry that it will happen again.

"Livestock will have endured an horrific attack which traumatises it for life, or its injuries were so severe its life came to a brutal end.

"The dog owner will be distressed having witnessed such an attacked and the pet overwhelmed by its natural instincts. No one walks away from these cases unscathed.

"What makes it so difficult to comprehend, is that livestock worrying cases are always preventable and occur due to human negligence. Whilst the majority of dog owners act responsibility, the actions of a small percentage is putting lives at risk."

Mr McLenaghan said more work is needed to raise awareness of responsible dog ownership with the public.

"I urge all dog owners to keep their dogs under control and on a lead at all times in rural areas, especially at this time of year with pregnant ewes and newborn lambs," he added.

"This is the only way to keep everyone, farm animals and pets safe.

"No matter what breed, size or temperament, all dogs are capable of chasing, injuring and killing farm animals."

Rob Taylor, the UK Police National Police Chiefs' Council lead for livestock attacks, said a reduction in the costs was a step in the right direction, but he urged police forces around the country not to be 'complacent'.

"The current figures are encouraging, showing that we are heading in the right direction with the fall here in Wales and across the UK, although we have to keep the momentum in raising awareness with dog owners of this problem and remain focused," Mr Taylor added.

"There is no simple solution to resolving these horrendous attacks, but we have put in place several work streams looking at various areas of concern and with our partner agencies.

"I really believe we are starting to see a difference." 

Farmer reaction

Northern Ireland

Nigel Rainey, from Portadown in Northern Ireland, was left traumatised when he was left picking up the pieces of a vicious dog attack on his sheep last year.  

Mr Rainey, a third generation who runs a 101 hectare business of 120 Belclare ewes and a suckler beef herd, said he was checking his stock and was accompanied by his four sons a the time.

He soon discovered a dog had killed five dead ewes, which were heavily pregnant at the time, with many more left with injuries and stress.

The attack came at the worst possible time for the farm during lambing when the Rainey family were already 'fully stretched' and in danger of losing further lambs.

"The threat of dogs attacking the sheep during lambing is our worst nightmare," he added.

"It was very distressing for me to come into the field and see the dead and injured sheep – but it was worse for our four children who were with me doing the rounds. 

"The sheep were our second batch due to lamb and were on winter grazing away from the farm. As soon as we got in the field, we realised there was something badly wrong."

Mr Rainey said the sheep were split into two groups, huddled in various corners around the field.

The majority had injuries sustained during the attack, with two chased into a ditch where they drowned.

"One of the pedigree Texwel ewes belonged to my 14-year-old son which he bought as his introduction to farming," the Portadown sheep farmer added.

"There was no sign of the dog – it must have got loose from a house or been allowed to roam in the night and attacked the sheep when no-one was around.  

"Taking into account our time sorting out the sheep after the attack, extra feed, aborted lambs and the impact on our breeding programme, the cost to the farm runs into several thousand pounds.

"We do not have a big flock, so losing five ewes and their lambs together with four more aborted lambs has had a serious impact on our breeding programme." 

Kent

Fifth generation farmer Andy Edmonds, from Maidstone in Kent, runs a 242 hectare business with 650 Suffolk/mule and Romney ewes and a beef suckler herd. 

Mr Edmonds had to put down nine of sheep to 'end their suffering' after they had been viciously attacked by two dogs in the spring of 2024. 

He was alerted to the attack on his grazing ewe lambs when a walker on a public footpath saw two small terriers 'savaging' sheep in the adjacent field. 

After arriving at the scene, Mr Edmonds said he was 'horrified' to find the lambs were still alive but had flesh hanging off their faces, leaving their skulls exposed. 

"It was a horrific attack – the worst I have seen in a long career in farming," he said. 

"The nine most-severely savaged lambs were in a terrible state and the only thing we could do was stop them suffering any more. 

"A number of lambs were less severely injured and recovered – while all of them were stressed by the attack. 

"We reported the attack to the local police who took it very seriously.

"They had suspicions about two dogs and carried out DNA tests to try and find out if there was a match with saliva left on the sheep carcasses.

"However, the results were inconclusive." 

Wales

Second-generation farmer Gareth Graham raises 90 sheep and 250 beef cattle on 93 hectares of land in Afonwell near Holywell.

Two of Mr Graham's sheep, a pedigree Texel ewe and a Vallee Blacknose lamb worth £2,500, were killed by dogs in North Wales, causing significant financial losses to the business.

In recent years, three separate attacks have left sheep dead or injured. 

The sheep farmer said he has been forced to reduce the size of his flock due to the incidents, turning to beef rearing instead. 

With lambing due to start in March, Gareth is putting up signs requesting walkers to keep their dogs on a lead along the footpaths around his farm. 

"We are in a very popular tourism area straddling the Offas's Dyke Way," he said.  

"This means we get a lot of dog walkers from urban areas on our land who do not realise that their dogs can attack and kill livestock.

"As I work off-farm, it is difficult for me to keep a close eye on the sheep across the three blocks of grazing land.  

"I regularly ask walkers to put their dogs on the lead – but people do not want to listen.

"They just say: ‘my dogs do not chase sheep'." 

Take the Lead

You can support Íæż½ã½ã's 'Take the Lead' campaign, in association with the National Sheep Association, to raise awareness of keeping dogs on lead when near livestock.

We can provide you with free signs, in English and Welsh, to place around your farm warning dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead near livestock.

To request yours, send a stamped self-addressed A4 envelope to: FG Take the Lead, Íæż½ã½ã, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9NZ.

We will be able to send up to 25 signs.

Alternatively, you can contact reporter Chris Brayford if you have been a victim of a livestock worrying incident and wish to share your story at [email protected].

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