Shocking figures have revealed that livestock attacks are continuing to increase.

According to NFU Mutual’s latest claims data, farm animals worth an estimated £1.95 million were injured or killed by dogs in 2025—a 10% increase on the previous year.

The figures come as farmers prepare to enter peak lambing season.

A new survey of 1,407 dog owners reveals some of the behaviours contributing to the problem:

•    57% let their dogs off the lead in the countryside
•    1 in 10 admit their dog has no recall
•    44% say their dogs return only some or most of the time
•    1 in 20 admit their dog has chased livestock
•    72% are not taking active steps to prevent chasing
•    Nearly two thirds do not believe their dog could harm animals

Earlier this year, the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act was passed, which grants police stronger powers to respond to livestock attacks in England and Wales.

The law makes a series of amendments to the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 implementing new measures to deter and detect livestock worrying, including a power to collect and test for DNA evidence and enhanced powers around the seizure and detention of offending dogs. It also adds camelids (alpacas, llamas and vicuñas) to the list of protected livestock.  

The issue is incredibly important to farmers. As the figures show, livestock worrying has an increasingly huge toll on farmers, particularly during lambing, when pregnant ewes and newborn lambs are especially vulnerable.

Even dogs that seem calm or friendly can chase livestock, and sometimes the stress alone is enough to cause long term harm or even death.

Sarah Lee, Director of Policy and Campaigns at the Countryside Alliance, stressed that the responsibility lies with dog owners:

"The countryside may be a lovely place to walk your dog, but it is a working environment, and the livelihoods of many farmers is dependent on people understanding that.

"By acting responsibly and keeping your dog on a lead, we can ensure that traumatic and costly livestock worrying can be kept to an absolute minimum."

With countryside visits set to rise as spring approaches, the Countryside Alliance, along with the National Rural Crime Network, are encouraging dog owners to:

•    Keep dogs on a lead anywhere livestock may be present
•    Let go of the lead if chased by cattle, for your own safety
•    Never let dogs roam unsupervised, even in gardens near livestock fields
•    Report any incidents to the police or local farmers immediately
•    Recognise that all dogs can chase or injure livestock, regardless of size or breed