[bplegs]

Hallo!
I have a question.
A neighbour of us has allowed another farmer to put 100 lambs in their field. We found 60 of the unmarked, untagged lambs in with our Jacobs after they stormed our fence.
 We have contacted the neighbour who has arranged for the sheep to be moved. But here is the rub. we have no idea where these lambs were from, no idea of their inoculation/ parasite history and we now have a broken fence! With tupping on the horizon we are more than a little hacked off as we are now very tight on space, but our neighbour seems to think its all 'sorted'. Any advice on how to proceed with this... a  call to DEFRA is very tempting ...

[shep53]

I think you need to talk with your neighbour  as falling out makes for a  hellish life .   The very least you would want is help either physical or financial to repair the march fence as it belongs  to both of you' beyond that its difficult maybe pay for a FEC in a couple of weeks time  and any wormer if needed .     As for lice or scab then if they have either then  even if they had not got over the fence your sheep would probably have got infected through the wire fence .  If shortage of grass is going to be a problem then maybe you could come to some arrangement with your neighbour to graze his field for a few weeks to allow yours a chance to recover .

[Anke]

As you don't know the history of these sheep I would stay well clear of putting my sheep into the field that has been grazed by those other sheep - especially if you have got a relatively worm-free stage with your flock.


You need to check your title deeds as to what the arrangements re fence/boundary repairs/maintenance are. Most are joined, so speaking to the neighbour and agreeing what the course of action is is probably the easiest. It sounds as if the fence wasn't n the best of states anyway if sheep could break through it...


A call to DERFA would probably not get you anywhere - if the sheep are now gone neighbour can just deny it ever happened.... and he probably was just doing someone a favour....


PS - you aren't anywhere near Moray....


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-41373436

[bj_cardiff]

I'd just suck it up. The fence broke, it could of been your sheep that were interested in the lambs and pushed the fence or that the lambs pushed the fence from their side and weakened it, either way the fencing just wasn't good enough. Its just something that happens from time to time.

I'm amazed that you would consider calling DEFRA in and giving your neighbour a real headache over this though. Your neighbour hasn't done anything wrong. The person who owned the sheep should of tagged them before moving them, not your neighbours fault at all.

[bplegs]

Not near Moray at all! But blimey!!!

PS - you aren't anywhere near Moray....


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-41373436

[Marches Farmer]

What are you most bothered about - that the lambs should have been tagged, that the fence was in poor condition (generally speaking if the wire is on your side of the posts it's your fence) or that the lambs mixed in with your sheep and MAY be carrying problems for your stock?  My own reaction would be that the tagging business is the concern of the owners of the lambs and of the sheep tack, that I should've checked the soundness of the fence as it might just as well have been my sheep that broke out (especially Jacobs!) and that I'll put my stock on another bit of grazing for a while to lessen the chances of them picking up worms and I'll keep an eye on them for scratching and rubbing which might indicate scab or lice.

[bplegs]

Thanks. The fence was definitely breeched by the lambs, our girls (Not overly brave) were as far away from the lambs as they could get!!


I know what you mean about sucking it up but we haven't had an apology from the neighbours, which is extremely irrating. You are correct in that my neighbour has not technically done anything wrong but its galling to lose the field at this stage, no way are my sheep going back onto that just before tupping!!


No danger of calling DEFRA, they aren't open at the weekend! But the movement of untagged animals really isn't on either, which is down to whoever owns the sheep.


Bottom line, we would like the fence repaired. Quite happy to help in this too, except for that to happen the neighbours have to talk to us!! Happy days eh?!

I'd just suck it up. The fence broke, it could of been your sheep that were interested in the lambs and pushed the fence or that the lambs pushed the fence from their side and weakened it, either way the fencing just wasn't good enough. Its just something that happens from time to time.

I'm amazed that you would consider calling DEFRA in and giving your neighbour a real headache over this though. Your neighbour hasn't done anything wrong. The person who owned the sheep should of tagged them before moving them, not your neighbours fault at all.

[bplegs]

Thanks.


I think its the untagged lambs that bother me. Will be keeping a good watch on our girls though!

What are you most bothered about - that the lambs should have been tagged, that the fence was in poor condition (generally speaking if the wire is on your side of the posts it's your fence) or that the lambs mixed in with your sheep and MAY be carrying problems for your stock?  My own reaction would be that the tagging business is the concern of the owners of the lambs and of the sheep tack, that I should've checked the soundness of the fence as it might just as well have been my sheep that broke out (especially Jacobs!) and that I'll put my stock on another bit of grazing for a while to lessen the chances of them picking up worms and I'll keep an eye on them for scratching and rubbing which might indicate scab or lice.

[twizzel]

The untagged sheep would be the least of my worries. Make sure your sheep are tagged, sound, looked after and in the right place. Put electric up to keep your sheep in/their sheep out if the fence is their responsibility, or fix it if it's yours. Keep yourself to yourself... you never know when you might need your neighbours to help you??

[harmony]

Funny isn't it that we observe a six day standstill for movements on but give back strays regardless, have common grazing and shared fence lines. 

[Womble]

With tupping on the horizon.....

What sex were the lambs?  I'd be a little bit concerned that tupping may already have started! 

[SallyintNorth]

It is of course the law that any ovine should be tagged before leaving the holding of birth, so yes, by law, those lambs should have been tagged.

However, unless risk of fly strike is past in your region, most farmers prefer not to tag while the flies are still about, on animal health and welfare grounds. 

[twizzel]

It is of course the law that any ovine should be tagged before leaving the holding of birth, so yes, by law, those lambs should have been tagged.

However, unless risk of fly strike is past in your region, most farmers prefer not to tag while the flies are still about, on animal health and welfare grounds.

If strike is that bad then tag before it becomes a problem. I don't think the ministry would accept that as a reason for moving untagged sheep. We tagged our lambs beginning of May when they had their first heptavac and have tagged newborn calves outside throughout the summer with no problems at all.

[harmony]

It is of course the law that any ovine should be tagged before leaving the holding of birth, so yes, by law, those lambs should have been tagged.

However, unless risk of fly strike is past in your region, most farmers prefer not to tag while the flies are still about, on animal health and welfare grounds.

If strike is that bad then tag before it becomes a problem. I don't think the ministry would accept that as a reason for moving untagged sheep. We tagged our lambs beginning of May when they had their first heptavac and have tagged newborn calves outside throughout the summer with no problems at all.

If the field is close to the main holding and he is going to rent it long term might he not have added it to his main CPH so technically they haven't left the holding of birth?

[honeyend]

I think some of the bigger farmers don't bother tagging until the send them to market if they are running them on rough grazing. It saves them having to replace lost tags. I used to rent a field next to RSPB land and I often had tagless sheep in my field, none of them were tagged.
  Perhaps a few of these sheep may end up on someone else's flock. Its really annoying, it depends how much bother they are causing you how far you want to take it, if you have ewes you would want compo, whether its four legs or cash. Your neighbour may not have a clue about health status.
  I would stick them in a barn and make the owner come and get them for the cost of keep+, then at least you know they can not get out again.