There's also the problem of a carcase attracting rats if it's left near
houses.
Modern farming practice is to have dead stock picked up by the
National Fallen Stock scheme, but in remote areas far from roads it
often doesn't make economic sense to haul a dead sheep down off
the high fell and pay for it to be taken away. I think there's also a
feeling that if the fox is going to eat any of your stock he might as
well eat the old dead ones as kill one of the live (better) ones for
himself.
I am reminded of the old farming song I've heard at Hunt suppers,
"Old Mutton Pies" in which the young farm hand complains of
being fed exclusively on the elderly ewes that have died around
the farm. "And the farmer said, Sit down, young pup, for thou'll
get nowt else till it's all etten up!"
Sue Millard
On 31 Oct 2013 at 11:33, Pam Cross wrote:
>
>
>Certainly singular deaths
> from climate seem to be generally left for predators/rot here in the
> Dales and also in some areas of the US SW. I'm still surprised
> winterkills wouldn't be harvested (are dogs not allowed to scavenge
> sheep for fear of them attacking live animals?) or just left rather
> than burnt. Is there some sort of predator/dog attraction issue?
> Especially if they're near habitation sites, I suppose? Pamela J
Cross
Sue Millard MSc, BEd
Web minion for Fell Pony and Countryside Museums
http://www.fellpony.f9.co.uk/
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