[mab]

hi all,

I have a stream as the boundary on my land, and at the upstream end, the road crosses the stream. I've noticed the odd dead sheep in the stream before, but when I went down there yesterday, there were 5 sheep (no tags), in various states of decay in just 200yds from the bridge, plus 'remains' of older carcasses.

I don't have any proof of who's dumping them, although my immediate neighbour did see the farmer from up the road jumping back into his car which was stopped on the bridge - and there's no reason for him to be stopping there.

trouble is, as the new guy here, I'm a bit reluctant to start causing trouble for 'old boys' (like to maintain goodwill among the neighbours & all that); but on the other hand I feel that this is unacceptable behavior, and I don't want other peoples dead sheep on my boundary near my sheep (not to mention yesterday morning spent clearing a chest high, 12 foot wide logjam that was causing the stream to flood, which had 2 1/2 dead sheep in it - not my idea of fun  ).

Also (probably a silly question) I'm not really sure who I should complain to (local council/env' health? animal health/defra?).

Any advice / opinions welcome.

marcus

[jaykay]

Environmental health I would have thought. If you speak to the Police, they would know.

That's totally unacceptable - you don't have to say who's complained, you can blame some townie walkers who were making a fuss 

[holz306]

Animal heath or enviromental services is your best bet......with regards to the neighbours i'd do a wee phone around, something along the lines of  "have you had any sheep stolen or go missing, because sheep have been getting dumped at the bridge and im really worried someone is up to something as there tags have been removed"..............that way they know that you know, you appear to be a concerned neighbour and if Animal health get involved its only because you were concerned not because you were accusing anyone 

[Victorian Farmer]

i bet the tags have been taken of its Whit folk do to avoid the knacker man and cost very bad

[mab]

i bet the tags have been taken of its Whit folk do to avoid the knacker man and cost very bad

indeed - but as most of the farmers seem to have big diggers, if they really want to dispose of them unofficially, why can't they dig a hole and bury them on their own land? 

Alas Holz, I don't have their phone no.s so I'd have to make personal visits - I'm not sure I could do 'innocent enquiry' to their faces - I'm not that good an actor  .

OK that's 2 votes for env health/services - I think I will have to make that call. I think I'll take some pics and monitor the stream more closely too - we're just about entering the lambing season here...

[the great composto]

HI Mab - this isnt very pleasant behaviour but I just wondered what sort of impact you thought it will have on you or your sheep?
Is the stream flowing toward your land or away from it where the sheep are being dumped?

[Backinwellies]

That seems to be quite a lot of dead sheep at one time ..... I would be a bit concerned about what they died of too.......   definitely report .....

[tizaala]

I would have loaded them up and deposited them on his driveway without saying a word, he would be verry reluctant to try that again, Most farmers just bury them under their muck heaps anyway.

[plumseverywhere]

There are  farms affected by Foot and mouth currently, todays news. This behaviour is just out of order. Get onto AH and environmental health asap

[Fowgill Farm]

There are  farms affected by Foot and mouth currently, todays news. This behaviour is just out of order. Get onto AH and environmental health asap

No plums its an old clip of news TIz has posted! read it thro it dates back to the original outbreak years ago
Mandy

[plumseverywhere]

Really? omg I panicked!!! TIZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tizaala]

POST NOW REMOVED ........
 
Got the adrenalin going this morning , who needs coffee when you have me...?

[plumseverywhere]

  such a relief that its not current news though and in a way has shifted me into a positive thinking mode, makes us so glad that no matter how difficult the mud, rain, hay prices etc has been - we DO NOT have FMD, thank goodness. Life could be unbearable.

[Dogwalker]

As far as not being seen to be causing trouble,   The local farmers probably wouldn't think it's acceptable behaviour either,  Can you chat innocently concerned to one or two you know better and they'll warn the other guy off doing it again.
If it's anything like around here the words already gone around before you've walked back home.

[lachlanandmarcus]

Definitely report it. The 98% of farmers who do follow the rules would support doing the same thing.