23/10/24 - Bird of prey deaths, ruminant emissions and spitting alpacas

Farming Today

The RSPB says more than 1,300 protected birds of prey have been killed across the UK over the past 15 years. The Birdcrime report blames rogue gamekeepers who, it claims, are more concerned about protecting the gamebirds on their shooting estates. But the British Association for Shooting and Conservation says its members have "absolutely zero tolerance" of the illegal shooting of birds of prey.

The Green Alliance says the number of ruminant livestock in the UK needs to be reduced to reach Net Zero targets, and that farmers should be supported to change their businesses.

And the British Alpaca Society estimates there are around 45 thousand alpacas in the UK, kept for breeding and for their high quality fleece. Alpaca breeders use something called a spit-off or a spit-test to see if their females are pregnant with a cria, or baby alpaca. We go along to see the test in action!

Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons