The pastures are not completely empty as the cattle, once intended for the moorland, remain. But sheep have been removed and so far I've seen none that have been left behind. This contrasts with earlier in the year when sheep were removed during lambing but four were left behind to fend as best they could.
I struggle to understand the practices of sheep farming. Very little sense of duty of protection is observable in those responsible for sheep these days. Not in the case of hill sheep at any rate. We have sheep regularly all over a fast main road alongside Blacka. Last week on BBC Radio 4's Farming programme there were complaints being made about the increase in rural crime which include stealing sheep. A farmer who, from his voice, sounded a very reasonable and educated man said that he found he was 200 or so sheep missing when he came to collect them to take to market. This amounted to ten per cent of the herd. They could have been taken weeks previously, but he couldn't be sure because he obviously didn't inspect them regularly.
Yet if your dog suddenly and unpredictably runs after a sheep the farmer will feel quite in his rights to shoot the dog; and there are many instances of this happening. The worst at this are usually those who are poorest at looking after their own animals.
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