Sustainability of hill sheep flocks in England

Sheep production has been taking place on the hills and uplands of England for many centuries and has made a major contribution to environmental and social development and sustainability in these areas. Traditionally, hill farms have provided the crossbred breeding stock for the upland areas, older “cast” ewes for further breeding on improved grazing and naturally reared lamb meat. Under current economic conditions, there is a severe lack of profitability in these units with consequent reduction in sheep and shepherd numbers on the hills. Factors involved in the loss of profitability include persistently poor lamb prices and increased disease risk. Furthermore, 2012 will see the end of many of the current subsidy schemes and from 2010 there will also be the requirement for electronic tagging which requires extra expenses and administrative efforts. The only “growth industry” on this type of land seems to be grouse-shooting, which has low personnel requirement and few long-term social benefits. This paper reviews factors involved in this de-population of the hills, using examples from the Cheviot Hills of Northern England in particular, over the last 20 years and comments on the economic and management requirements necessary for continued sheep farming in these areas, as well as the animal welfare and social effects the trend for lower stock numbers will result in.