Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP has demanded an urgent Ministerial response to the NFU’s ‘Manifesto for the Hills’.

The Scottish Agricultural College’s report ‘Farming’s Retreat from the Hills’, found a 23 per cent drop in sheep numbers in the last ten years and an 11.7 per cent reduction in the beef breeding herd over the same period. NFU Scotland has produced a plan to halt the decline of livestock on Scotland’s hills.

Commenting, Mr McArthur said:

“The loss of sheep and cattle from our hills is deeply worrying. The decline in livestock numbers has an economic impact and even threatens the viability of shops, schools and other essential services in our small rural communities. It also presents challenges for the maintaining and managing of some of Scotland's most iconic landscape.

"In Government, the Liberal Democrats sought to ensure that changes being introduced to farm support took place in a way that encouraged the retention of livestock, particularly in more remote and physically difficult conditions.

“At a time when fuel, feed and fertiliser costs are soaring, the Scottish Government must now respond to these new challenges.

“The NFU has produced a comprehensive action plan. Ministers must respond and help arrest the decline of livestock on our hills.”