LAMENESS IN SHEEP MUST BE PROPERLY ADDRESSED - WILLIAMS (Brecon and Radnorshire Liberal Democrats)

Cymraeg
English

Brecon and Radnorshire Liberal Democrats <info@brecon-radnor-libdems.org.uk>

LAMENESS IN SHEEP MUST BE PROPERLY ADDRESSED - WILLIAMS

May 20, 2009 8:25 AM

Commenting today on a response to a Parliamentary Question that showed funding by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), for research into lameness in sheep dropped by over 90%, Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal Democrat Food and Rural Affairs Spokesperson, has called on the Government to increase it's research funding.

Mr Williams said:

"Lameness in sheep is a very real animal welfare issue which can make it impossible for farmers to sell their livestock and has a devastating impact on the profitability of farms.

"In 2006/07 the total amount of funding provided by DEFRA was just under £200,000. While this is almost certainly insufficient the funding for the current year [2008/09] is less than £20,000.

"This is definitely not enough to fund in depth research into this issue and I would encourage the Department to re-evaluate the amount of funding they provide in order that this issue can be properly addressed."

NOTES:

The question tabled by Roger Williams MP can be found here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2009-05-18a.274926.h&s=speaker%3A11324#g274926.q0

Ends/diwedd