1-20 of 3,222 results for subject:Sheep
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To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State on 9 June 2026 (UIN 7005), why they concluded that banning castration and tail docking of lambs was not the correct approach; and whether they will make their statement publicly available.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State on 9 June 2026 (UIN 7005), why they concluded that banning castration and tail docking of lambs was not the correct approach; and whether they will make their statement publicly available.
This Government recognises that there are situations where completely removing the need for these procedures is not feasible and would not reflect the evidence base or sectoral needs and could result in unintended negative consequences for animal welfare. There remain cases, such as where there is a high risk of flystrike, where these procedures may still be justified. This is set out in the consultation documentation.
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish the results of the lamb welfare consultation on proposed changes to castration and tail docking methods, which closed on 9 March.
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish the results of the lamb welfare consultation on proposed changes to castration and tail docking methods, which closed on 9 March.
The Government is currently analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to train UK-based sheep shearers ahead of the closure of Seasonal Shearer Visas in 2027.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to train UK-based sheep shearers ahead of the closure of Seasonal Shearer Visas in 2027.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the end of Seasonal Shearer Visas in 2027 on sheep welfare.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the end of Seasonal Shearer Visas in 2027 on sheep welfare.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made in implementing the Animal Welfare Committee's recommendations on lamb castration and tail docking.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made in implementing the Animal Welfare Committee's recommendations on lamb castration and tail docking.
As a result of considering the recommendations in the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the Implications of Castration and Tail Docking for the Welfare of Lambs, the Government issued a UK-wide consultation on lamb castration and tail docking which launched on 12 January 2026 and closed on 9 March 2026. The Government is currently analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration her Department has given to the potential merits of requiring the use of effective pain relief when tail docking or castration is carried out on lambs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration her Department has given to the potential merits of requiring the use of effective pain relief when tail docking or castration is carried out on lambs.
The Government considered the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the Implications of Castration and Tail Docking for the Welfare of Lambs including the scientific evidence prior to issuing a UK-wide consultation on proposals to improve the welfare of lambs earlier this year. Consultation proposals included seeking views on the use of pain relief and those circumstances when castration or tail docking should only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. We are currently analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to restrict the routine use of tail docking and castration in lambs to exceptional circumstances under veterinary supervision.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to restrict the routine use of tail docking and castration in lambs to exceptional circumstances under veterinary supervision.
The Government considered the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the Implications of Castration and Tail Docking for the Welfare of Lambs including the scientific evidence prior to issuing a UK-wide consultation on proposals to improve the welfare of lambs earlier this year. Consultation proposals included seeking views on the use of pain relief and those circumstances when castration or tail docking should only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. We are currently analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the scientific evidence on the welfare impacts of routine tail docking and castration in lambs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the scientific evidence on the welfare impacts of routine tail docking and castration in lambs.
The Government considered the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the Implications of Castration and Tail Docking for the Welfare of Lambs including the scientific evidence prior to issuing a UK-wide consultation on proposals to improve the welfare of lambs earlier this year. Consultation proposals included seeking views on the use of pain relief and those circumstances when castration or tail docking should only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. We are currently analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take following the consultation on tail docking and castration in lambs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take following the consultation on tail docking and castration in lambs.
The Government is currently analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to prohibit the routine castration and tail docking of lambs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to prohibit the routine castration and tail docking of lambs.
A consultation on lamb castration and tail docking closed on 9 March. The proposals the Government consulted on did not include a ban on the use of castration and tail docking. Instead, the Government proposed that, where a procedure is considered to be necessary, then it should be carried out using methods that do not cause significant pain, or suitable pain relief should also be provided. We are now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking in response to the consultation on tail docking and castration in lambs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking in response to the consultation on tail docking and castration in lambs.
The consultations on lamb castration and tail docking closed on 9 March. The Government is now carefully analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of (a) current market conditions and (b) input costs on the UK sheep sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of (a) current market conditions and (b) input costs on the UK sheep sector.
The Government continues to work closely with all livestock sectors as they face higher input costs particularly for fuel, energy, and fertiliser.
At the March 2026 meeting of the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG), Defra and the Devolved Governments decided to closely monitor the price and availability of these key inputs in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The UKAMMG monitors UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments including international conflicts and extended unfavourable weather. The Group meets monthly, enabling it to provide forewarning of any atypical market movements.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning tail docking and castration of lambs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning tail docking and castration of lambs.
As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government is committed to working with the sheep sector to implement the advice and recommendations in the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the Implications of Castration and Tail Docking for the Welfare of Lambs and to update the Sheep Welfare Code.
The Government has carried out an assessment regarding changes to the rules around lamb castration and tail docking. The assessment concluded that banning lamb castration and tail docking was not the correct approach and instead the government consulted on other proposals to improve lamb welfare during the procedures. The Government is now analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a long term, dedicated visa route for overseas shearers to ensure timely shearing and protect livestock welfare.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a long term, dedicated visa route for overseas shearers to ensure timely shearing and protect livestock welfare.
The Government recognises the importance of safe and timely shearing to protect animal welfare. The sheep shearing concession has been operating for 15 years and it is reasonable to expect that over this period a long-term sustainable solution had been found to identify this workforce gap. Therefore, having considered the potential merits, and in line with the plans set out in the White Paper “Restoring Control over the Immigration System,” published in May 2025, the Government does not consider a long-term route is required.
The Government expects the sector to meet these needs through the domestic workforce and individuals with existing general work rights, including dependants or Youth Mobility Scheme visa holders, who are free to take up work as a sheep shearer subject to the relevant visa restrictions.
That this House welcomes the Home Office's decision to retain the visa concession for work as sheep shearers this year; recognises the vital role that the exchange of sheep shearers between the UK, and Australia and New Zealand plays in fulfilling workforce demands and ensuring timely shearing for animal welfare; notes that sheep shearing is a highly skilled and seasonal role, requiring significant training and experience; acknowledges that the world's shearing workforce includes international shearers who are essential to managing the UK sheep flock; expresses concern at the news that this concession will not be retained into 2027; and urges the Home Office to consult with colleagues at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and representatives from relevant farming organisations to fully assess the ramifications of tightening these visa requirements for the UK's sheep industry, given existing workforce pressures.
That this House welcomes the Home Office's decision to retain the visa concession for work as sheep shearers this year; recognises the vital role that the exchange of sheep shearers between the UK, and Australia and New Zealand plays in fulfilling workforce demands and ensuring timely shearing for animal welfare;...