Lamb deaths rise after hunt ban claim

Shot of hunted fox from the league's covert filming

The suspension of a mid Wales hunt pack following claims of 'barbaric' practices has led to local farmers claiming the number of lambs killed by foxes has spiralled.

Plas Machynlleth Fox Hounds pack was suspended on Monday by the Federation of Welsh Packs after undercover filming by the League Against Cruel Sports alleged cruelty to fox.

The federation- the governing body designed to represent organised hunting in Wales - will now hold an inquiry into the matter on Sunday.

Farmers in the Machynlleth area now claim the suspension has led to a rise in the slaughter of lambs by foxes.

The suspension is very frustrating because 15 of my lambs have been killed by foxes during the last five nights David Evans, farmer

But the League Against Cruel Sports claims that foxes are scavenging lambs that have already died.

Local farmers pay a subscription to the hunt to kill foxes on their land during the lambing season which is currently in full flow.

"The suspension is very frustrating because 15 of my lambs have been killed by foxes during the last five nights," said David Evans, who farms at Aberhosan.

Trapped fox

"At the moment I am losing three lambs a night and the situation has gone out of control.

"Normally the pack would have been out to hunt for the fox or foxes responsible and I have no other way of controlling the foxes because poison is a no-no and putting down snares is cruel."

Roy Rowlands, who has farmed at Derwenlas for the past 30 years, said he had lost six lambs.

The pack was due to visit his farm on the day after the suspension.

Farmers claim 15 lambs have been killed by foxes during a five night period

"It is very disheartening because you work hard to get your sheep through the winter only for the lambs to be killed so easily.."

Both farmers said that each lamb was worth between £30 and £45 and losing lambs was a huge financial blow to them.

The suspension came after the League Against Cruel Sports went undercover to shoot footage of a trapped fox being attacked by terriers before being destroyed.

The federation said this was against its rules but had been assured that the huntsman put the fox down before it was given to hounds.

The league's report, entitled Digging the Dirt, claims to have uncovered film which showed dogs incapable of killing a fox with a quick nip to the back of the neck, and terriers attacking a trapped fox, which was screaming while being dug out.

Nick Fenwick, Plas Machynlleth Fox Hounds secretary, said: "This suspension has affected us more now than any other time of year because it's the middle of the lambing season.

"We have got 14 farms who are losing lambs to foxes and they need us to deal with the problem but we have been suspended.

"One farmer has lost 20 lambs in the last 10 days which is much more than the normal rate."

Dr Fenwick added that he was confident that the inquiry would exonerate the pack.

"In our opinion we have done nothing wrong."

But the League Against Cruel Sports' chief executive, Douglas batchelor disputed that foxes had caused the problem.

"The primary cause of lamb losses is poor nutrition and bad weather," he said.

"The fox is a scavenger and will pick up lambs that have recently died, expecially overnight.

"No amount of lamb losses will justify the cruelty shown to foxes by packs."