As the unpredictable weather hails a new breed of mittens and overcoats, the problem with farmers losing their livestock has continued to grow at an alarming rate. With farms in distant countrysides suffering losses, the concerns that the price of mutton rising after 150,000 sheep have died due to the cold climates and bad weather this year. This makes 20,000 more deaths than in previous years.
More than £2.5 million pounds have already been spent on the severe losses as the National Fallen Stock Company attempts to gather up the unfortunate disaster.
The National Farmer’s Union has said that farmers residing in North Wales, South-west Cumbria, Shropshire and Staffordshire are now said to pay a maximum of up to £500,000 pounds to make up for their losses; this doesn’t include the amount of money that it will take for the dead animals to be collected.
Now, it is only natural to assume that the mercenary actions of those selling mutton to supermarkets will now be charging more for meats this year in order to regain financial balance. Despite this, there will still be a £2 million pound loss this year.
Peter Garbutt, chief livestock adviser for the NFU, said: “There might not be snow in Westminster but there is a massive problem in other areas of the country. Very little stock has been collected so far as farmers are still trying to pull animals out of snow drifts and gather them for collection.”
The clinical and shrewd perspective of sheep mortality affecting business puts the situation of unpredictable weather and difficulties in perspective, with farmers being unable to bury their dead flock due to frozen soil alongside supermarkets having to shell out more cash to buy those that are left.
Nevertheless, with animals left vulnerable to the unexpectedly harsh and long winter months, there is a question of how long can it can last before the animals – and their investors – can survive the bitter accumulation of frost.