Livestock Sheep sector hits back over minister’s


‘wrong’ no-deal Brexit comments • ‘Sheep farmers could produce beef’


• Impossible goal for many producers


• There will be opportunities – minister


D


efra secretary George Eustice is under fi re after suggesting that mixed farms could produce less lamb and more beef in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The National Sheep Association said Mr Eustice should have better knowl- edge of the UK’s sheep farming enter- prises after he made the suggestion dur- ing an interview on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show on Sunday, 15 November. During the interview, Mr Eustice


said: “If we are not importing as much beef from Ireland, then those mixed beef and sheep enterprises would be able to diversify into beef.”


Enraged farmers National Sheep Association chief exec- utive Phil Stocker said: “Mr Eustice’s comments will have angered many of our nation’s sheep farmers, failing to identify the unique and varied nature of sheep enterprises across the country. “To begin with, to suggest that many


of our sheep farmers are mixed farmers is wrong,” he added. “This assumption will enrage sheep farmers across the UK who have structured their farms to focus on sheep. “The fact we have many sheep farm-


ers, especially younger farmers and new entrants to the sector who run their sheep on arable farms and on short term grass lets was completely ignored – sim- ply switching to cattle would be impos- sible for them.”


‘Act of negligence’ It was hard to think Mr Eustice really believed what he said, added Mr Stock- er. The interview had left people it was part of a “we don’t care” attitude or a willingness to see reduce the size, scale and diversity of the sheep sector.


Farmers face an uncertain lamb market next year


Mr Stocker said: “The country’s sheep farmers work hard to supply a product that is predominantly ecolog- ical agriculture in nature, fed on grass and part of the creation of our iconic countryside.


“To allow British sheep farming to potentially be permanently dam- aged because the transition agree- ments to enable us to change to a different global supply chain aren’t put in place would be an act of negligence on behalf of our government.”


Tenant Farmers Association chairman Mark Coulman said the suggestion that sheep farmers should consider diversifying


Defra secretary George Eustice (below) has defended his comments


into beef production, if the market was closed for exports of high quality lamb, were “not helpful to say the least”.


Concerted effort


Mr Coulman said: “The farming com- munity was hoping for much better than this. Somehow, we need to use the short time available to garner the strength to pull victory from the jaws of defeat, but this will require a con- certed effort.”


Defending his comments, Mr Eus- tice said he was suggesting mixed beef and sheep enterprises would have the option to diversify more into beef if nec- essary in the event of a no-deal Brexit because Irish beef would become sub- ject to tariffs.


Further reduction in farm antibiotics


Sales of antibiotics for farm animals in Eu- rope have fallen again, signifying a reduction of over a third between 2011 and 2018. he UK retained its position as having the


fi fth lowest sales overall – some 71% lower than the EU average in terms of mg/PCU, a stand- ardised unit of animal biomass, according to the European Surveillance of Veterinary An- timicrobial Consumption. Cat McLaughlin, who chairs the Responsi- ble Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance, said it was good news that antibiotic use in


European farm animals had fallen so signifi - cantly over the past seven years. “It’s very positive to see this downward trend across almost all countries, not just in terms of total sales but also the highest priority antibi- otics – third and fourth generation cephalospor- ins, fl uoroquinolones and colistin,” she said. “Any use of an antibiotic has the potential to create resistance and as part of a One Health approach, we all have a duty to protect the ef- fi cacy of medical and veterinary antibiotics by reducing, refi ning or replacing use.”


DECEMBER 2020 • MIDLAND FARMER 33


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