Dog attacks on livestock remain a serious and persistent problem for many farmers, causing significant financial losses and profound emotional distress. A recent report on rural crime estimated the cost to the industry at £1.8 million in 2024. In the same year, a Freedom of Information request by the FUW to North Wales Police revealed over 80 reported livestock attacks across the police force area.
Historically, the impact of these attacks has been compounded by widespread under-reporting, outdated legislation, and a prevailing perception that the legal system lacked the tools to effectively penalise offenders.
A hard fought battle for change
Fortunately, the tide is now turning with the passage of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025. This landmark legislation is the culmination of many years of dedicated campaigning and lobbying by the FUW, agricultural organisations, political representatives, and key individuals, including Rob Taylor QPM, NPCC UK Police Livestock Attack Lead and Wales’ Wildlife and Rural Crime Coordinator.
In recent discussions with the Farmers’ Union of Wales, Rob Taylor stated:
"Livestock attacks by dogs continue to be a significant problem for our farming communities, impacting not only financially but emotionally as well and the effects cannot be underestimated. We have been tirelessly working on introducing a new law to replace the outdated one for many years, and I am pleased to announce that it will come into effect from the 18th of March this year.
This new law will provide the police and the courts with greater powers to investigate and sentence offenders and will also cover animals not currently protected by the old act. We are hopeful that the introduction of this law, along with our online responsible dog ownership course, will make a real difference in reducing the number of reports the police receive each year and the impact on our farming communities."
Commenting, FUW regional vice president Anwen Hughes said:
“Dog attacks inflict devastating trauma on livestock and further economic strain and stress on farmers. Beyond fatalities and severe injuries, the stress alone can trigger miscarriages in ewes and lambs can become separated from their mothers.
"The FUW has long campaigned for stronger police and legal powers to tackle dog attacks on livestock, recognising the devastating and ongoing impact these incidents have on Welsh farmers. We therefore warmly welcome the passing of this historic legislation, which represents a significant and long-overdue step forward in protecting livestock, supporting farmers, and strengthening rural communities”.
The new law will officially come into effect from the 18th of March 2026.
Strengthened powers introduced by the new act
The Act introduces several key reforms designed to give police and the courts the necessary powers to tackle this issue:
- Unlimited Fines: The previous £1,000 cap on fines for livestock worrying has been removed, paving the way for unlimited financial penalties.
- Enhanced Police Powers: The legislation grants police expanded powers to seize and detain dogs suspected of attacking livestock. It also authorises officers to obtain warrants to enter the homes of suspected owners in order to secure evidence for prosecution.
- Modernised Definitions: The legislation modernises the definitions of livestock and what constitutes an attack, reflecting contemporary farming practices. Significantly, llamas and alpacas will now receive the same legal protections as traditional livestock like cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry.
- Expanded Offence Definition: The law broadens the scope of the offence to include livestock worrying, in addition to direct attacks. It also extends protection to livestock being moved along tracks and highways, making clear that offences can occur on roads and public paths, not solely on agricultural land.
The FUW remains committed to pressing for further strengthening of this legislation, particularly to extend its scope so that dogs are required to be kept on a lead at all times around livestock. Nevertheless, these changes represent a significant step forward, enhancing the ability of the police and the legal system to impose meaningful penalties and deter the irresponsible behaviour that leads to these needless attacks.
Ahead of May’s Senedd election, farmers were given the opportunity to question political representatives from across Wales’ main parties at a hustings event held at Welshpool Livestock Market on February 23.
The event was organised by the Montgomeryshire branches of the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW), NFU Cymru and Montgomery Young Farmers’ Club (YFC).
The hustings provided a platform for representatives of Wales’ six principal political parties to outline their priorities for agriculture and rural communities, as well as respond directly to questions from the audience.
Those in attendance were Aled Davies (Welsh Conservatives), James Evans (Reform UK), Llyr Gruffydd (Plaid Cymru), Sue MacFarlane (Green Party), Ian Parry (Welsh Labour) and Glyn Preston (Welsh Liberal Democrats).
The event was opened by NFU Cymru Montgomeryshire County Chair, Marc Jones, with the discussion chaired by Montgomery YFC Chair, Non Owen, and event closed by Wyn Williams, FUW Montgomeryshire Chair.
Commenting following the hustings Wyn Williams, Chair of FUW Montgomeryshire said:
“We’re very grateful to all candidates for taking their time to support this event. The discussion highlighted just how critical this election will be for the future of Welsh farming. Key issues including the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), the ongoing challenges surrounding bovine TB, and the future of agricultural budgets were central to the debate.
“It was encouraging to hear representatives set out their positions and respond directly to questions from farmers and rural residents. There are strong views across the sector, and events like this ensure those concerns are heard clearly ahead of polling day.”
This year’s Senedd election will see the number of seats increase from 60 to 96, with the new Gwynedd Maldwyn super-constituency formed from the existing Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr and Dwyfor Meirionnydd Westminster constituencies. The new constituency will elect six Senedd Members via a proportional voting system.
Upcoming hustings
Ahead of the Senedd election, a series of agriculture-focused hustings have been organised by the Farmers’ Union of Wales, in many cases alongside NFU Cymru and Wales Young Farmers’ Clubs.
A full list of currently confirmed dates is provided below, with additional events in other counties due to be announced shortly. For further information, please contact your local FUW County Office.
| County | Date | Location |
| Anglesey | Wednesday 22 April 2026 - 19:30 | Ysgol David Hughes, Porthaethwy |
| Carmarthen | Thursday 12 March 2026 - 19:00 | White Hart Inn, Llandeilo |
| Caernarfon | Wednesday 29 April 2026 - 19:30 | Pwllheli Golf Club |
| Ceredigion | Tuesday 14 April 2026 - 19:00 | Aberaeron Rugby Club |
| Glamorgan | Thursday 19 March 2026 - 19:00 | Pencoed Rugby Club |
| Pembrokeshire | Thursday 23 April 2026 - 19:30 | NFU Building, Haverfordwest |
NFU Cymru and the Farmers’ Union of Wales were pleased to host a joint fringe event at the Welsh Conservatives’ conference in Llandudno, focussing on the two Unions’ shared vision for the next Senedd and Welsh Government. Welcoming politicians, candidates, and party members the unions relayed their calls for stability, fair funding, and a strong voice for rural Wales in the next Senedd.
Opened by Sam Kurtz MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Rural Affairs, the event saw FUW President, Ian Rickman, and NFU Cymru President Abi Reader present their key priorities for the next Senedd and Welsh Government, highlighting seven shared ambitions that form the foundation of their respective manifestos.
Lambing is one of the busiest and most demanding times of the year for farmers. Below, FUW Insurance Services Ltd highlights some key steps to help protect your flock and your farm during this important period.
Earlier this week FUW President, Ian Rickman and Deputy President, Dai Miles used their quarterly meeting with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, to highlight the uncertainties faced by Welsh dairy farmers as milk prices fall below production costs.
Background
In recent months, dairy farmers across Wales have faced growing uncertainty as milk prices have fallen well below the cost of production, placing immense strain on farm businesses at a time when confidence within the sector is already fragile.
In response, securing meaningful support for dairy farmers has become a key lobbying priority for the FUW. The Union is committed to safeguarding not only the viability of these businesses but also the vital role they play in sustaining rural communities across Wales.
Analysis by the AHDB suggests that the recent drop in milk prices has been largely driven by oversupply in the dairy market. In the 2025/26 milk year, GB milk production was forecast at around 13.05 billion litres, nearly 5% higher than the previous year, with deliveries running approximately 5.3% ahead year-on-year through late 2025.
The situation remains complex, driven by a perfect storm of factors - including good milk-producing weather, a favourable milk-to-feed price ratio, strong global milk production, and shifting international demand.
This sustained high output has outstripped demand and processing capacity, leaving processors with more milk and dairy products than the market can absorb, which has in turn placed significant downward pressure on farmgate prices.
Survey findings
To better understand the challenges facing Welsh dairy farmers, the FUW launched an internal survey of its dairy members following an emergency meeting of the Animal Health and Dairy Committee in November.
The initial findings were stark. Survey responses showed milk prices falling from around 42p per litre in September 2025 to approximately 34.4p per litre by December 2025 - a drop of more than 7.6p per litre in just three months - with the downward trend continuing into 2026, and varying drastically from farm to farm.
Set against an average cost of production of 37.39p per litre, many Welsh dairy farmers were producing milk at a loss, placing severe and immediate strain on their businesses.
Notably, 80% of respondents had invested in new infrastructure over the past five years, including slurry storage systems to comply with CoAP regulations and broader modernisation projects aimed at improving efficiency and environmental performance. Capital outlay ranged from £12,000 to £145,000 per farm, leaving many businesses financially exposed as milk prices fell.
Given this uncertainty, it is perhaps unsurprising that over three-quarters of respondents expressed serious concerns about the viability of their businesses over the next nine months should prices fail to recover.
Calls for support
Amid growing uncertainty and financial pressure, the FUW has been at the forefront of efforts to secure meaningful support for Welsh dairy farmers.
Union officials have engaged extensively with policymakers at both the Senedd and Westminster, pressing the urgent need for intervention. Dairy prices were central to meetings with the Deputy First Minister in December and February. Meanwhile, during a visit to Westminster, FUW President Ian Rickman met with Tonia Antoniazzi, Andrew Ranger, Ben Lake, Ruth Jones, and Alistair Carmichael - Chair of the influential EFRA Committee - to highlight the scale of concern within the sector and the need for support.
In February, Ian Rickman also visited Denbigh dairy farmer Euros Hughes and his family at Gwaenynog Bach, hearing first-hand about the challenges, pressures, and ongoing uncertainty facing dairy farm businesses.
Central to the FUW’s lobbying has been calls for clearer communication between processors and producers under the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024, alongside urging the Welsh Government to explore powers within the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023 to allow timely intervention during periods of market collapse.
Media engagement
Alongside lobbying, the FUW has leveraged media platforms to highlight the pressures facing the dairy sector. The Union’s calls for urgent support have been featured in Farmers Guardian and a range of national and regional newspapers. Dairy farmers Rhisart Lewis and William Williams also spoke about the realities on the ground in appearances on BBC Wales Today, Newyddion S4C, and BBC Radio Cymru, helping bring first-hand challenges to a wider audience.
In February, FUW Policy Officer Elin Jenkins spoke at length with Ffermio on S4C, presenting the FUW’s survey findings and highlighting the significant impact that falling milk prices are having on dairy farmers across Wales.
Going forward
The recent drop in dairy prices, and the resulting threat to the viability of the Welsh dairy sector, remains a key concern for the FUW. The Union will continue to lobby politicians for increased support and, during its February Animal Health & Dairy Committee meeting, agreed to write to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator - who oversees enforcement of the Fair Dealings Obligations (Milk) Regulations - to request a meeting and discuss the sector’s urgent challenges.
