Fresh calls for responsible dog ownership have been made ahead of lambing season as NFU Mutual statistics showed that farm animals in our region, worth an estimated £438,000, were severely injured or killed in dog attacks last year.
This figure was down three per cent on 2024, but UK-wide dog attacks on livestock cost an estimated £1.95m last year, up 10% compared to 2024.
This data coincides with findings from an NFU Mutual survey of 1,407 dog owners released in February which reveal that 57% let their dogs off leads in the countryside. But alarmingly, one in 10 admitted their dog has no recall while 44% said their dogs came back only ‘some’ or ‘most of the time’.
In England, the Midlands was the worst-hit region by cost, followed by the South East costing an estimated £330,000.
'Deeply concerning'
NFU Mutual Rural Affairs Specialist Hannah Binns said: “As the lambing season gets underway – a time when pregnant ewes and newborn lambs are vulnerable – it is deeply concerning to see the estimated cost of livestock worrying rise to nearly £2m in 2025.
“It is crucial dog owners act responsibly by keeping their pets on leads wherever livestock may be nearby to prevent these needless attacks. If there is an incident, we urge those involved to do the right thing by informing a local farmer and reporting it to the police, so that any injured animals are not left suffering in pain.”