Farming Matters By NFU Kendal group secretary Derek Lomax Knee jerk headline grabbing reactions to unfortunate incidents rarely turn out to be the best course of action in my experience.

Nine times out of ten, it’s usually best to take a step back, assess a situation properly and react sensibly.

Media reports of an incident in which two lorry drivers were arrested in Kent after their vehicle carrying four tiers of more than 500 live sheep was declared unfit to cross the English Channel, resulting in two sheep being put down and another 41 severely lame sheep shot, resulted in a maelstrom fuelled by the RSPCA.

They are now calling for an immediate suspension of the live transport of animals – a step too far in my opinion.

Safeguarding the welfare of their animals during transport must be a top priority for hauliers and the NFU has long called for the current controls to be rigorously enforced across the EU.

It is clear that the circumstances around this incident should be fully investigated, including why these animals were unloaded without appropriate handling facilities.

But it should also be remembered that moving live animals throughout Europe is a legitimate and lawful activity and subject to comprehensive legislative controls. Vehicles used for such journeys must be approved by the authorities, drivers must pass tests to transport animals on longer journeys, and all animals travelling out of GB must be approved by a vet before travel.

Most farm animals are transported at some stage during their lives for breeding purposes or for further rearing. The key issue is that these animals are transported under the right conditions in order that they arrive at their destination fit and healthy. Journeys over eight hours or between member states make up a very small but important minority of all movements and these take place using specially designed vehicles.

One incident, albeit upsetting and regrettable, should not put at risk an export market which is responsible, highly regulated by veterinary professionals and puts much needed revenue back into the British livestock industry.

It should also be pointed out that if British consumers were prepared to specify that all the meat they buy is British, many of the economic incentives for this trade would disappear.