Orkney is a rural county of small farms; mostly rearing beef cattle and sheep. There are also a small number of dairy herds and pig farms, some fibre goat breeders and a few bird breeders and egg producers. Farm animals outnumber the 20,000 Orcadians by hundreds to one.
Farming in Sandwick, West Mainland, Orkney. In the background can be seen part of the
5000 year old stone circle - ‘The Ring of Brodgar’.
Photograph by GM
The standard of welfare on farms is generally high. Many welfare directives come from the EU, some of them not well thought out before being enforced. The small farmer can have practical problems keeping up, particularly when buildings need to be altered.
In an increasingly difficult market and with the appallingly bad summer just past, many farmers are now short of both fodder and money. Already, transporting a lamb to market can cost more than it will fetch. It is not impossible that this winter a single bale of hay may cost more than the value of a ewe. It will require vigilance and a good deal of government help to avoid an animal welfare crisis in Orkney this winter.
In the long term ECO will be working for a drastic change in the structure of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which at present forces farmers into over stocking and over intensive use of land through the current subsidy structure.
ECO would welcome a move towards less intensive and more sustainable use of land and restrictions on factory farming.
Although cases of careless handling have come to ECO’s attention, particularly in the mart and abattoir, cases of outright cruelty are rare enough in farming to shock the community when they occur. Occasionally, cases of cruelty to pets also occur and ECO has been active in supporting efforts to save injured animals and trace perpetrators.
To assist the public, ECO maintains a “hot line” 24 hour phone number and an e-mail address. Anyone discovering an animal welfare problem can call in confidence. We may then approach the offender to point out the problem and offer advice. If it seems that this will not help, we alert the appropriate authorities.
Gwen Armer
Letter from ECO regarding animal cruelty incident.
Sir, - It was courageous of Mr. McNee to place his timely letter in last week’s The Orcadian Postbag,
expressing his disgust at the reported incident of wanton cruelty imparted on a calf on Sanday. There must have been many
like-minded people in Orkney equally repulsed by this violent attack on a defenseless animal.Environmental Concern Orkney (ECO) concurs with Mr. McNee that there is never an excuse for cruelty of any kind, whether it be in the form of abuse, neglect or, as in this case, a vicious and relentless beating of an innocent, helpless creature.
At a local level, it is dismaying that over the years we have often read the same names of those appearing again in the Sheriff Court accused of animal neglect/abuse/cruelty. What message is society sending out, if the sentence placed on these people is so inconsequential that it has no effect on their behaviour and they re-offend?
Fortunately, last October, extensive new legal powers and duties in relation to animals came into force under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, and anyone responsible for an animal is obliged to meet the animal's basic welfare needs and significantly, enforcement agencies will no longer have to wait for additional veterinary evidence of an animal’s suffering before they can step in.
The Act amends the Animal Health Act 1981 and strengthens animal welfare legislation, some of which dates back as far as 1912!
The amended Bill states clearly that people who abuse animals will face stiffer penalties and those that cause unnecessary suffering can face 12 months in jail and fines of up to £20,000.
ECO welcomes the new amendments to this Bill and the fundamental changes that have been adopted to improve it. Over the years, many organisations like the SSPCA, Advocates for Animals, etc have fought long and hard, working alongside our MSPs and the Scottish Executive in bringing animal welfare legislation into the 21st century.
It is important that we stay ever vigilant against perpetrators of animal cruelty and report promptly any suspicious incidents to the appropriate authorities. In doing so, we can effectively give animals a voice.
It is also crucial, however, when passing judgment in abuse cases, that the court fully supports the essence of this Bill in striving to provide higher standards of welfare and protection for animals.
By enforcing the new legislative powers we can send a clear message to those who would and do, unlawfully inflict suffering. Animal cruelty under any guise is unacceptable. “Let the punishment fit the crime.”
Yours etc.
Susan Ferguson, Environmental Concern Orkney (hon. secretary)
Burness Cottage
Burness Road
Firth
