§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the three most common welfare problems affecting sheep were in 2002; and what estimate she has made of how many sheep in the UK suffer from lameness at any given time. [122317]
§ Mr. BradshawThe three most common welfare problems in sheep in order of prevalence are lameness, sheep scab and internal parasites.
The results of a postal survey carried out by the Royal Veterinary College in 1997 suggest that there are approximately three million cases of lameness in sheep each year in Great Britain. The incidence of lameness has not significantly changed since the survey was undertaken.