TV STAR and North Wales farmer Gareth Wyn Jones says the start of the lambing season means that is critical for the Welsh Government to explain why Wales has much higher levels of attacks on sheep than other parts of the UK.

It is claimed that, last June, he and 106 other sheep farmers wrote to the rural affairs minister, Lesley Griffiths, after data from the insurer NFU Mutual showed that Welsh sheep farmers were suffering four times more sheep attacks than their Scottish counterparts.

The letter also pointed out that police data showed that the number of dogs being shot by farmers in North Wales was three times higher than in similar parts of England.

But Mr Wyn Jones said that, even though the letter was covered in the national press, the minister has not replied to the farmers.

Despite this, Welsh Government said it has no record of having received this letter, but will respond to it once received.

Mr Wyn Jones said: “This is an ongoing animal welfare crisis where Wales is bottom of the league table.

“If the minister does not trust the NFU Mutual or police data, then she should commission her own research.

“I feel this personally, as this month, my cousin’s farm near Tregarth has had four separate attacks on pregnant ewes.

“It is time for Cardiff to wake up to what is going on in sheep farms the length and breadth of this nation.”

In this letter, the farmers pointed out that Wales is the only country in the UK which has banned the training of dogs with electronic collars.

Several scientific papers have found that they are uniquely effective in teaching even escaped dogs to be wary of approaching sheep.

Supporters say such training is vital, as in 89 per cent cases of attacks of livestock in North Wales, the dog was unaccompanied.

In an answer to a question from a Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths said it is “not possible to make direct comparisons” between areas of the UK because of “differences in sheep and human demographics.”

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A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "Dog attacks on livestock is a matter we take very seriously.

“Responsible dog ownership is the key to reducing attacks and we continue to remind owners of the responsibility they have to keep their dogs under control in the countryside.

“We are also working with the UK Government on introducing further safeguards through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

“Wales appointed the UK's first wildlife and rural crime co-ordinator whose remit includes tackling attacks on livestock, and we continue to engage with current research relating to responsible dog ownership, including approaches to training and public education.

“Animal welfare is our priority and the use of e-collars has been banned in Wales, as in many countries across the world, because these devices cause pain and distress to dogs.

“We have no plans to review this decision."