Farming minister to explain why hundreds of sheep suffered at sea

David Heath summoned by MPs after livestock endured 'absolute misery' in stormy Channel crossing from Ramsgate

Sheep in transportation: Ramsgate is now the only British port that exports live animals. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Farming and food minister David Heath is being summoned by MPs to explain how hundreds of sheep were allowed to board a ferry for France and suffered "absolute misery" during severe weather in the English Channel on Wednesday.
Government vets passed the sheep fit to board the Joline, a Dutch-owned vessel, at Ramsgate, the only port in Britain from which live animals are now exported. They also said they were in satisfactory condition after the aborted journey to Calais.
But a Kent MP, Sir Roger Gale, and the RSPCA said the sheep, transported in two lorries, should never have boarded the boat in an incident that will only intensify campaigners' fight to stop the trade. The government says it cannot ban it under EU law.
According to the RSPCA, there had been warnings of force-10 winds in the channel and the boat had been at sea for a total of five-and-a-half hours. The charity said its own inspectors had not been allowed to inspect the animals before sailing.
Gale, the Conservative MP for North Thanet, which neighbours the constituency that includes Ramsgate, told the Commons on Thursday that the ferry had sailed in appalling weather. The animals were on a ship "that should never have been allowed to sail at all – went halfway across the Channel, turned back and had to unload those animals that were then transported a long way across the country in absolutely misery.
"This is absolutely intolerable and it is done in the name of free trade."
Gale called for an environment minister to make a statement to MPs, a request which Commons leader Andrew Lansley backed. He said he would ask the department to update MPs on the controversy.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Defra, said it had not yet received a formal request to make a statement, but added that its hands might be tied by a legal case between Thanet council and companies trying to continue the trade.
It is believed most of the sheep had travelled from Northamptonshire and were returned there. RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant said: "It is barbaric that animals are at sea on open decks in these appalling weather conditions. This ship is designed to work in rivers, not in the open sea."
Grant said the crossing amounted to "torture" for the animals and the RSPCA would be lodging a complaint with the authorities in the hope that a full investigation will be conducted into why the ship was allowed to sail.
A spokesman for the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AVHLA), which reports to Defra, said: "The MV Joline returned to the port of Ramsgate yesterday due to unexpected headwinds.
"Both prior to the ship's departure and upon its return, AHVLA vets inspected the animals that were due to be exported and were satisfied there were no welfare issues."
The agency took its responsibilities "extremely seriously" but refused to say where the animals had travelled from. It was satisfied the animals had travelled in lorries for less than the maximum 14 hours before a break.
Frank Langrish, of the National Farmers Union, rejected criticism that the exporters had not considered the welfare of the animals. He told the BBC: "Nothing can be further from the truth.
"Every animal is inspected before it goes on those lorries. It's the captain's discretion whether he sails or not."
The aborted sailing comes a month after a high court injunction was served on Thanet district council, overturning its decision to suspend live animal exports at Ramsgate.
The suspension by the council was introduced in September after 42 sheep which arrived at the port in a lorry unfit for transporting live animals had to be put down due to lameness. A further two drowned and two suffered broken legs.
The deaths occurred after the RSPCA highlighted to the council the port's inadequate facilities, warning of severe problems with animals in an emergency. A letter co-written by leading council members was then sent to environment secretary Owen Paterson. It called for the urgent establishment of a livestock resting facility in Kent.
The local authority said the suspension would be lifted if suitable facilities could be built within the port and if it deemed it a priority compared with other issues. The ferry operation moved to Ipswich but the Suffolk port's owners halted exports after just one shipment amid concerns about suitable facilities there.
Thanet council then received notice that it faced a judicial review bought against them by export companies over its decision to suspend operations at Ramsgate. Last month the high court ordered the council to allow live animal movements to resume until the outcome of case, which is due to start next month.
Farming minister to explain why hundreds of sheep suffered at sea

This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 15.56 GMT on Thursday 22 November 2012. It was last modified at 16.30 GMT on Thursday 22 November 2012.

Our latest editions.......

These little ones were born 9/10 March......

Caroline with James and Leonard

clever girl

which one are you?

could be James - could be Leonard

Sheep fleece Dressing Service

Dressing Service.

Geoff Woods                                                                                                     

Devonia Products Ltd                                                                                      

The Tannery                                                                                                       

Mardle Way                                                                                                        

Buckfastleigh

Devon TQ11 0AG

Tel: 01364 643355

Mob: 08818 575657

 e-mail: geoff@devoniaproducts.co.uk

We are able to offer a dressing service where you can get your lambskins made into sheepskin rugs. (We can also process deerskins, goatskins and other skins of a similar size.) We are prepared to process single skins or more.

1. Unshorn lambskins make the best rugs. Sheepskins generally yield very poor quality rugs and are

not suitable.

2. A wool length of 2 to 5 inches (50 to 125mm) is ideal for a sheepskin rug. We can (and regularly do) process skins with longer wool length but the quality needs to be good with the wool free (no knotting) or the customer may be dissatisfied with the outcome.

3. If at the time of planned slaughter the wool length is expected to be much longer than 5 inches then

it is recommended that the animal be shorn at the appropriate time to allow the wool to re-grow to the

optimal length. (We appreciate that this is not always possible.)

4. The skins should be well salted as soon as possible after the lamb has been slaughtered - ideally

within a couple of hours but definitely on the same day. This will prevent any putrefaction of the skin and wool slip. We recommend evenly spreading about one kilo of salt on the flesh side of each skin. Leave overnight to ‘brine out’ and apply about a further half a kilo of salt to ‘dry’ the skin out. The skin is not actually dry but any liquor will be absorbed. The abattoir may be able to help with this – it is worth checking.

5. Well-flayed skins, i.e. those removed cleanly by the abattoir without damage, are required. Skins

entering the dressing process with flay holes, however small, are likely to get caught in our tanning

machines and get damaged.

6. Under the Animal By-products Regulations we will require documentation to show that the skins

have come from an authorised source i.e. a licensed abattoir (or a home kill). You may need our Defra

licence No. 10/271/0108 for this and to provide evidence that you are planning to send the skins to us,

an authorised plant. I can fax, post or ideally e-mail a copy of our licence to aid with this process if

necessary. If you are unable to provide the official documentation then details of the abattoir and date of slaughter will be sufficient.

The cost of this service will vary with the amounts of skins supplied (please see price list) and is excluding VAT. An additional salting charge of £2.50 per skin will apply if a skin is received unsalted or is deemed inadequately salted.

You can either send the skins by parcel post or carrier (well wrapped) or deliver direct to us. The process normally takes about  12  weeks and we would contact you as soon as the skins are ready. We ask for payment on collection of the skins or before the skins are sent. An additional charge to cover carriage would apply when skins are sent. This charge would be confirmed at the time.

Please note:

·        Although we do our utmost to advise customers on the qualities required of a raw sheepskin to make a good quality sheepskin rug and we process each skin to the best of our ability, we can offer no guarantee as to the final outcome.

·        If payment is not received within 3 months of the customer being informed that the skins are ready then Devonia will take ownership of the skins in an attempt to recover the costs incurred.

This is a brief summary of the general requirements. Feel free to contact me direct should you require any further information

Bell Meadow Show - 28 August 2011 - Woodham Walter

How many men does it take to put up the boards? 

Danni directing opertions

Gazebo City

"Jus' like that"

Team EESG - Carlie missing as she is taking the picture

Darren just loves the camera - photographer to the left....

Cllr Robert Long, Chairman of Maldon District Council
meets Fred and Dude

Look.... I want to climb in here......

Gloucester Old Spots x 3

Lewis, one of our youngest members with Dude, Fred and Darren.  Darren in the tee-shirt!

"What lovely eyes you have!"

SHEEP - never do what you want them too

Relaxing 

What's his name?

Hello Mr Sheep

Let me out!

Am I cute or am I cute?

No I'm the cute one!

What is that red thing?

Gosh - loads of people....

Look girls, these are Gloucester Old Spots

Bell Meadow Show - 28 August 2011 - Woodham Walter

"A very warm welcome awaits you!" - so says Mark Durham, Chairman of the Bell Meadow Day Committee which is preparing for this year's event, to be held on Sunday 28th August in Woodham Walter. Now in its 7th year this traditional country fair, which celebrates the best of rural life, has become a popular event in the Essex summer diary, offering entertainment for all the family; there really will be something for everyone to enjoy in a wonderful rural setting. 

Daytime events from 1pm include demonstrations and stalls with traditional crafts, rural skills and ever popular activities including: 

Pony rides

Competition Tent, 

Pets Corner, and local livestock from East Essex Smallholders

Pigs

Traditional Steam Engine, 

Pony Rides, Fairground attractions, 

Cupcakes

Face Painting, 

Refreshments and Homemade Cakes, 

BBQ, Fine Dining Catering, 

Beer Tent with live music throughout the day,

traditional games & stalls plus displays of traditional rural skills and crafts, 

agricultural machinery and blacksmith demonstration. 

Falconry

Arena activities include a Falconry Display and Gun Dog Trials plus family games and events. 

With live music on offer throughout the day, the entertainment will culminate in a brand new set from one of the UK's premier 70's/80's disco bands, For Funk Sake, who return to Woodham Walter by popular demand following their fantastic appearance last year.

Woodham Walter is a hidden gem of a village which boasts a traditional old-fashioned community feel. 

There is a primary school with about 80 children, a small shop/post office, 2 golf courses, a brand new holiday lodge park, 3 pubs plus the only surviving Elizabethan church in Essex built in 1563. 

St Michael's Church, Woodham Walter

The village is well worth a visit and on the day of the event, Sunday 28th August, Woodham Walter (just off the A414 between Danbury and Maldon) will be buzzing with excitement and atmosphere.

The event is organised by the Bell Meadow Village Association which was formed on behalf of the Parish Council in 2005 by a group of volunteers with a keen interest in Bell Meadow after it was gifted to the village. 

Bell Meadow, Woodham Walter

Bell Meadow Day has now become an annual event, held on the Sunday of the August Bank Holiday weekend, when the whole village comes together to celebrate its rural heritage and to warmly welcome visitors.

Bell Meadow Day is supported by local individuals and businesses.

Prices

Admission: Adults £3, children Free.

Event details

Dates and Times

Dates	Times
Sun 28 Aug 2011	13:00