Stock rule protest toned down

UK - Peter Rogers, a former Welsh Assembly member who will stand at the next General Election, has made a token challenge of fallen stock regulations.

On legal advice he withdrew an invitation to other farmers to put their dead animals with his in a pit he excavated at Cefn Dderwen, his beef and sheep unit at Brynsiencyn on the island of Anglesey.

At the last minute he also decided to avoid prosecution by covering the rotting carcasses of ewes and lambs with a tarpaulin rather than soil.

"I felt I had to do something. Despite the best efforts of the contractors the collection system is in disarray.

"Some animals lying dead in my yard have been there for five weeks. The stench is unbearable, and the rats are having a field day.

"I feel I have been forced into taking this action on behalf of myself and my fellow farmers, who are all suffering in the same way."

He described the Fallen Stock Scheme as fatally flawed.

Source: FWi