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Starving lambs to be slaughtered Starving lambs to be slaughtered
(about 3 hours later)
Plans to slaughter and dispose of a quarter of a million lambs caught up in the foot-and-mouth crisis are to be announced by the Scottish Government. Plans to slaughter and dispose of a quarter of a million lambs caught up in the foot-and-mouth crisis have been announced by the Scottish Government.
The young animals are usually sold to a specific European market but the outbreak in England meant they could not be moved and left them worthless. The so-called "light lambs" are usually sold to a specific European market but the outbreak in England meant they could not be moved.
The so-called light lambs could starve when their hillside grazing runs out. The onset of winter and lack of grazing means the animals face starvation.
Ministers are to reveal an incentive scheme in which farmers receive money for taking the lambs to abattoirs. Farmers will be paid £15 to send each animal to an abattoir in an incentive scheme estimated to cost up to £6m.
The problem has come to the fore in Scotland first due to the colder climate and pasture on many hill farms now becoming thin. The problem has come to the fore in Scotland ahead of the rest of the UK due to the colder climate and pasture on many hill farms now becoming thin.
The move comes shortly after Environment Minister Hilary Benn told the Commons of a £12.5m aid package to help the livestock sector in England deal with the consequences of foot and mouth. The export markets for which the sheep are bred have been closed for most of the past two months and will only reopen on Friday.
Measures for Scotland and Wales are being announced separately by the devolved administrations. 'Facing starvation'
Light lambs are usually roasted whole in Europe and there is little demand in the UK.
Some carcasses will be used for biodiesel and the remainder will be incinerated.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said he had already received isolated reports of lambs dying and called on Westminster to cover the cost of the scheme.
"The foot-and-mouth crisis has left hundreds of thousands of sheep stranded on our hills facing starvation," he said.
"We cannot countenance the prospect of this continuing given the impact not only on the welfare of the animals but also on those farmers who would otherwise face watching their flocks starve to death."
There are already reports of livestock mortalities in these regions Mike FlynnSSPCA
He added that the moral and financial responsibility for this crisis lay with the UK Government.
"Action is needed now and we will provide funding on an emergency interim basis and seek to recover this from Defra in due course," Mr Lochhead said.
Charles Milne, chief veterinary officer for Scotland, said the scheme was essential to prevent a catastrophe of animal suffering on a large scale.
"All animals entering the scheme would have been slaughtered and their meat exported," he said.
"However, with the lack of availability of this market we must ensure that welfare of these animals is not compromised."
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it opposed the culling of animals unless there is a clear animal health or welfare issue.
Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said, "There are already reports of livestock mortalities in these regions, and if the situation remains it will put these light lambs at severe risk of starving to death."
Tory rural affairs and environment spokesman John Scott welcomed the scheme and backed the SNP administration in seeking compensation from Defra.
"It's better late than never," he said.