Heartbroken farmer nearly quit career after ravens massacre 220 lambs trends now

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Massacres of newborn lambs by armies of ravens are threatening the viability of Scottish sheep farming, it was claimed yesterday.

One shepherd has revealed he considered quitting his career after 220 lambs were killed on a single farm. Five ewes also had to be destroyed.

Finn Yorston, who tends flocks on Balnabroich Farm near Blairgowrie in Perthshire told The Times he lost 30 lambs in a single day and that the growing raven population had brought a surge in attacks.

The 45-year-old said: ‘I have been a been a shepherd for 30 years and this was the worst lambing I have ever experienced.’ He added: ‘It is the only time in my life I nearly quit. I was born and bred on a hill and I think I am pretty tough, but it has been heartbreaking.’ Ravens are a protected species in Scotland which means a licence is needed to kill them. Estimates of their numbers range between 2,500 breeding pairs and 6,000.

The Scottish Government’s wildlife agency NatureScot says they tend to feed in large flocks which allows them to target prey much larger than they are.