Sheep sector warns of looming shortage of shearers

Scotland's sheep sector says there could be a shortage of shearers next year due to planned change to migrant labour rules.

Each year, 75 sheep shearers from New Zealand and Australia have been able to apply for a seasonal concession allowing them to live and work in the UK for about three months.

The UK government has extended the arrangement for this year's shearing season, but it will end on 30 June. It says the sector has had 14 years to train up a "resilient and sustainable" British workforce.

But Skye-based contractor Malcolm White said: "Although we've seen an increase in local young shearers, it still wouldn't be anything like enough."

Domesticated sheep do not moult so are sheared to prevent them from overheating in warm weather and becoming infested by pests such as ticks.

Their wool is used for textiles and other products.

Skye contractor White has been in the sheep shearing business for 35 years.

He said the relaxed rules around overseas workers should not be changed because there were too many sheep to be sheared in a short space of time.

"I think it should stay as it is - it's worked perfectly well for the last few years," he told BBC Naidheachdan.

The National Sheep Association said since 2011 a temporary concession had been granted specifically for overseas shearers to help shear about two million sheep in the UK.

Policy manager Michael Priestley said the industry had successfully secured a concession every year but was now being told it has had "sufficient time" to fill the workforce gap.

He added: "Efforts are being made to explain how valuable the concession is for the sheep sector and the national flock, and that despite between 800 and 1,000 shearers being trained by British Wool each year, the steps required to becoming a professional shearer is a major life choice due to the time needed to hone technique, develop contacts, and build stamina."

NFU Scotland welcomed the UK government's decision last week to extend the visa concession for this year, but said a long-term solution was needed.

A spokesperson said the rules had helped a small, highly-skilled team of overseas shearers to work in the UK.

They said: "These workers are recognised as low immigration risk but provide a vital service to the sheep sector.

"Shearing is time-critical and requires specialist skills. Overseas shearers play an important role in helping farmers complete shearing quickly, safely and to high standards of animal welfare during the relatively short shearing season."

They added: "While we welcome this year's extension, it is essential that a longer-term solution is put in place to ensure farmers have reliable access to the skilled labour needed to safeguard sheep welfare and support the UK sheep industry."

The Home Office said all concessionary arrangements were temporary and designed to give sectors in the UK space to build a "resilient workforce".

A spokesperson said ministers reviewed these arrangements regularly.

They added: "The sector has been supported for 14 years to enable them to train up British workers, reduce their reliance on migrant labour, and provide a fully sustained workforce within the United Kingdom.

"A final extension has been provided to the sector. We now expect the sector to complete its transition to using domestic labour."