Dog attacks are causing higher barren rates in Kerry hill flocks every year, Mount Brandon farmer John Joe Mac Gearailt told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“My most recent scanning has shown over 20 ewes are empty, increasing year on year as dog attacks become more regular up on the hills. Other farmers whose ewes graze up there are reporting the same issue.
“It’s gotten completely out of hand. I had a neighbour on the phone to me the other evening and he was on the verge of tears with how stressed out he was with these repeated attacks.”
Rush of blood
Mac Gearailt has reported the attacks to gardaí and other local authorities but feels not enough is being done to prevent further incidents.
“I was gathering the ewes last July and out of nowhere this man comes up to the middle of my sheep and lets his dog run loose in the middle of them. I let a roar over at him and next thing he started hurling abuse back.
“I saw red and took off running towards him with a stick but lucky enough he cleared off and nothing more came of it. It’s hard enough to earn a living in these parts without having to deal with the likes.”
Breaking point
The Kerry shepard warns that access gates to the popular walking routes on Mount Brandon will have to be closed if a solution cannot be found to prevent further attacks.
Mac Gearailt continued: “Tourism brings a lot of money into the area. At the end of the day we will have to prioritise the safety of our sheep and if that means closing the gates then so be it.
“Dog owners need to cop on. Ewes are coming down off the hills with broken legs and at this stage we are reaching breaking point.”
Read more
Farmer describes ‘soul destroying’ dog attack on sheep
Calls for spate of dog attacks to be tackled
Eight in-lamb ewes killed and another 132 worried in Laois dog attack
Dog attacks are causing higher barren rates in Kerry hill flocks every year, Mount Brandon farmer John Joe Mac Gearailt told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“My most recent scanning has shown over 20 ewes are empty, increasing year on year as dog attacks become more regular up on the hills. Other farmers whose ewes graze up there are reporting the same issue.
“It’s gotten completely out of hand. I had a neighbour on the phone to me the other evening and he was on the verge of tears with how stressed out he was with these repeated attacks.”
Rush of blood
Mac Gearailt has reported the attacks to gardaí and other local authorities but feels not enough is being done to prevent further incidents.
“I was gathering the ewes last July and out of nowhere this man comes up to the middle of my sheep and lets his dog run loose in the middle of them. I let a roar over at him and next thing he started hurling abuse back.
“I saw red and took off running towards him with a stick but lucky enough he cleared off and nothing more came of it. It’s hard enough to earn a living in these parts without having to deal with the likes.”
Breaking point
The Kerry shepard warns that access gates to the popular walking routes on Mount Brandon will have to be closed if a solution cannot be found to prevent further attacks.
Mac Gearailt continued: “Tourism brings a lot of money into the area. At the end of the day we will have to prioritise the safety of our sheep and if that means closing the gates then so be it.
“Dog owners need to cop on. Ewes are coming down off the hills with broken legs and at this stage we are reaching breaking point.”
Read more
Farmer describes ‘soul destroying’ dog attack on sheep
Calls for spate of dog attacks to be tackled
Eight in-lamb ewes killed and another 132 worried in Laois dog attack
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