Rare Derbyshire Gritstone sheep dies after suspected dog attack

The sheep was found injured on farmland used by Derby College's Broomfield Hall campus

A rare breed sheep belonging to an agricultural college in Derbyshire has died after a suspected dog attack.

It was thought to have happened on farmland used by Derby College's Broomfield Hall campus, in Morley, between 12:00 and 15:00 GMT on Sunday.

The Derbyshire Gritstone sheep was found injured and died soon after arriving at a vets.

Derbyshire Police has asked anyone with information on the attack to contact the force.

Ady Oliver, farm manager at Broomfield Hall, said: "It was alive when we got to it.

"We got it over to the vets in Derby but unfortunately it died when we got there."

The injuries were on the ram's face and back end, Mr Oliver said.

He added: "We shouldn't have lost it from that injury but I think it was the fact that it was stressed, and then the stress of us loading it up and taking it off-site to the vets, probably just too much for it."

The Derbyshire Gritstone has been listed as an "at risk" breed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST).

Mr Oliver said the death would be very upsetting for the students, who did most of the work on the farm.

The rest of the sheep have been checked and no others were thought to have been injured.

The Derbyshire Gritstone has been listed as an "at risk" breed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust

Mr Oliver said dog attacks were unusual for them, despite having a number of public footpaths through the college land.

He has asked dog owners to keep their dogs on the lead.

"If you're walking your dog and there is livestock your dog should be on a lead, even if they are a well-trained dog which will come back to you, they can spook the sheep," he said.

"Especially this time of year, all our ewes are in lamb so even if your dog hasn't attacked them, if it just chases them they can still lose their lambs."

Derbyshire Police said the attack had been reported and urged anyone with any information to contact the force.

"We would also repeat the warnings to dog owners about the dangers their animals pose to livestock and that they have a duty to keep their dogs under control at all times," a force spokesperson added.

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