Farmer left a sheep!

[releasethehounds]

Not really pets but didn't know where else to post this.

Two days ago the farmer came and took his flock of sheep from the large field opposite us. However he missed one! I noticed it when out on a dog walk last night. Aren't they supposed to count their sheep? Anyway I'm hoping he comes back for it; in the meantime it seems quite content with a whole field of grass to itself! If the farmer doesn't come back I have no way of getting in touch with him. Am I supposed to ring any particular organisation and report it? I'm also concerned that local dog walkers will start using the field thinking it's empty.

Any advice appreciated.

Sorry this has turned into a depressing thread. Just trying to do the right thing as I know farmers have to report dead sheep (to Defra?). The field is very remote so unlikely to be seen by passers by and the farmer who rented the field is not local. Only saw him a couple of times over the last six months.

Well, that's the book out the window

:( poor sheep

Farmers don't have to report dead sheep as such. Not individually anyway.

They should keep a record of the tag number in their flock book/movement book and they should ensure to dispose of it properly (I.e incineration or deadstock removal).

Each year we have to fill in an inventory about his many sheep we have, but certainly in our case as hill farmers with a large flock it's an estimate to the nearest 10 at any given time due to theft/lost on fell/escapees/natural causes/sudden reappearance of sheep lost on the fell last year.

It's not great stockmanship on the farmer's behalf in this case but it sounds like the sheep was possibly already ailing and had separated itself from the flock. If it's a large field with nooks and crannies these things can happen quite easily, and it's easy to miscount by one.

Sadly most sheep have two aims in life, inconveniently escape or die for no discernible reason.

Sorry OP. No they don't have to report to Defra. They do have to record it themselves though.

If the farmer isn't local then if you look at the tag in the ear then the first 6 numbers on it are the flock number, the local auction mart might be able to pass a message onto the owner for you.

Thanks all.

Rest in peace, sheep

Poor wee sheep, think our council have a report dead animals section.

I know 😞 can't stop thinking about it.

I would try and find the farmer. Ask around.

Update. Made a few phone calls this morning and ended up with the county council. Just had a call back to say they eventually found the farmer responsible and have given him six hours to remove the sheep. Apparently he was unaware that he'd left a sheep behind but the animal health agency were unimpressed as he only had around 30 sheep in the flock. He has been issued with a warning and the council rep asked me to check on the field later to make sure the sheep has been removed. So a result at least, sad it wasn't a happier one.

Thanks all for the advice x

Aw the forgotten sheep. What a crap farmer.

Do you think he knew it was ill.& lwft it

We have had quite a few sheep killed by dogs in my area! One of my friends is a farmer and he has had nearly 40 sheep killed by dogs this year! Foxes don't normally go for a healthy sheep.

Sad ending! Farmer definitely should have counted his sheep if he only had 30!

I bet he left it behind on purpose. Couldn't be bothered to get vet treatment.

Well done OP on continuing and at least getting it recorded.

Thanks again