Illegal Livestock Grazing

[Northdowns Martin]

Think this comes under Agricultural Matters rather than livestock. New neighbour acquired part of field we contract farm. Vendor fenced boundary, purchaser proceeds in erecting two gates in boundary then blocks us from accessing field from north leaving us a only southern entrance not an issue. Now he freely allows his sheep to roam through the gates to graze the arable field. Obviously it’s a pain but ultimately the field and crop isn’t mine the owner not living locally although there is a profit share arrangement to protect. Padlocking the gate is a waste of time as he cuts them off. I have noticed the sheep (small pet flock) aren’t ear tagged is this not a defra requirement? and is blatantly not securing livestock within his holding committing an offence?

 

[Agrivator]

He'll need a movement licence each time they go though the gates, both ways.

Can't you tie a gate parallel with each of his gates on your side of the fence. If he removes them it would be a police matter.

 

[betweenthelines]

Go and have a friendly chat. Point out that his animals should be tagged, ask if he knows this is a requirement, find out what else he doesn't know.

Ask if he has permission to use neighbour's field, ask if he cut your padlocks?

If he isn't cooperative, get tough. Report him to Defra, tell him straying stock will be impounded and only released when damages and compo has been paid.

 

[deleted user 837354]

I agree, might pay to go and see the bloke and have an informal chat. It could be a miscommunication or lack of understanding and you best determine how genuine the guy is and what his level of knowledge of expertise is. Are the stock vaccinated/treated and where were they from etc etc.

Non-tagged animals are a job for trading standards surely.

 

[jimred]

Just arrange for the sheep to stray a little (or a lot) further than he expected.

 

[Courier]

I'll bet that he hasn't a clue about or facilities for dipping or shearing either ...

 

[teslacoils]

Ok, so if they are not tagged and have no movement paperwork, exactly what's to stop you rounding them up into a pen, tagging them yourself and taking them to market? Apart from morals?

 

[tepapa]

Trading standards won't do anything other than make him tag the sheep with red tags unless they are lambs born on the holding.

 

[Suckndiesel]

Had bother with 3 goats continually breaking in and grazing a field we rented a few years back, owner didn’t give a toss, they weren’t tagged, reported them to the department, they were gone in less than a week.

 

[Tubbylew]

I'd round them up if words fail, and get them into mart, you may have to give him the money, strictly speaking, but your allowed to keep enough of it to cover your costs, i'm sure it's written somewhere.

 

[MRT]

What really gets me is it apparently crucial that DEFRA knows the precise location of all of my sheep day and night to the minute and these dangerous quadrupeds have to be double tagged and require inspections, trigger movement restrictions etc but it is ok for Ben Goldsmith DEFRA board member to introduce entire new species to the UK as he fancies

 

[primmiemoo]

I'd round them up if words fail, and get them into mart, you may have to give him the money, strictly speaking, but your allowed to keep enough of it to cover your costs, i'm sure it's written somewhere.

There's something about advertising that strays have been found, and asking for the owner to come forward (presumably proving ownership) before the selling to defray expenses, isn't there?

 

[SteveHants]

That sounds a lot more amenable than some of the phonecalls I've had when my sheep decided they didn't care about electric fencing anymore.....

 

[Northdowns Martin]

Tried talking to him, I could also fill several A4 sheets of his antics including breech of planning which council turned blind eye because he fosters. His view is the owner is wealthy so he can help himself. Unfortunately fails to see it affects me not the owner.

 

[TripleSix]

A bucket of rolled barley tipped in the field corner will sort the sheep out.

 

[Dry Rot]

I doubt whether the law is basically much different in Scotland. But....

DEFRA told me that straying is not a movement. Of course, they could be lying.

As I understand it, if you do anything (feed, water, tend, etc) stray stock, you then become "the keeper" in the eyes of the law and are responsible for them and any consequences.

You cannot drive livestock that have strayed onto your land onto the road, as you are now the keeper and will be guilty of an offence. (Different rules for open moorland, fenced roads, etc). Of course, if your gates are open and strays stray further, that has nothing to do with you. Inform the police.

If you set your dog onto strays on your land, you are guilty of worrying. But if your dog chases them without your encouragement, you are not liable (presumably because it is the dog's natural instinct to guard it's home territory).

If you leave gates open and they stray further without any encouragement, you, as the occupier, are not liable.

Strays have been known to disappear.

...and, no, I cannot give you any legal references.

 

[Al R]

A bucket of rolled barley tipped in the field corner will sort the sheep out.

That’s not fair on the sheep mind, it’s not their fault their “owner” isn’t playing ball.

find a farmer nearby with a mobile handling system and box and take them away? How many sheep? 5 or 50?

 

[JSmith]

Get a gun an shoot the first fecker you see through the gate, he’ll keep’m locked up after that!

 

[Tubbylew]

There's something about advertising that strays have been found, and asking for the owner to come forward (presumably proving ownership) before the selling to defray expenses, isn't there?

Yes i think it's 14 days or some such.

Tried talking to him, I could also fill several A4 sheets of his antics including breech of planning which council turned blind eye because he fosters. His view is the owner is wealthy so he can help himself. Unfortunately fails to see it affects me not the owner.

Have a word with the owner, sounds like a job for solicitors tbh, you can't reason with some people.

 

[Danllan]

What really gets me is it apparently crucial that DEFRA knows the precise location of all of my sheep day and night to the minute and these dangerous quadrupeds have to be double tagged and require inspections, trigger movement restrictions etc but it is ok for Ben Goldsmith DEFRA board member to introduce entire new species to the UK as he fancies

Which species?