Letter: Letters : Unlucky lambs

From Les Ward

Edinburgh

I cannot believe I am alone in feeling sickened at the misery suffered by
lambs in field trials by the New Zealand based company, Woolovers
(This Week, 26 July, p 24).

There already exists a wealth of knowledge relating to lamb deaths caused by
hypothermia which has, for many years, resulted in practical preventative
measures being taken by farmers: lambs being fitted with biodegradable jackets,
ewes being brought down to lowland pastures to lamb, or ewes and lambs being
brought indoors until the lambs are strong enough to be allowed out of
doors.

Yet, despite this knowledge and practical experience, this company went ahead
and placed 40 newborn lambs in a paddock, each “protected” with a so-called
“woolover jumper” and then deliberately placed a further 40 “unprotected” lambs
in another paddock and exposed them all to the rigours of a “particularly severe
storm”. This resulted in the death of two “protected” and 35 “unprotected”
lambs. In my opinion this totally unacceptable research displays a cavalier
attitude towards the welfare of animals by those concerned.

I also note with concern that “a larger trial” is now planned with backing
from New Zealand’s Ministry of Agriculture. No prizes for predicting the
outcome.