Current Status, with Reference to Conservation Grazing, of the Welsh

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Current Status, with Reference to Conservation Grazing, of the Welsh Current status, with reference to conservation grazing, of the Welsh Mountain (Section A) semi-feral pony following decoupling of farm subsidies through CAP reform in Wales – a scoping study David Anthony Murray Contract number: FC 73-03-278 Note This is a report of research commissioned by the Countryside Council for Wales. The Council has a programme of research in scientific and other areas, which supports the development of policies and practical work. However, the views and recommendations presented in this report are not necessarily those of the Council and should, therefore, not be attributed to the Countryside Council for Wales. © David Anthony Murray 2006. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or quoted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author, David Anthony Murray. i Current status, with reference to conservation grazing, of the Welsh Mountain (Section A) semi-feral pony following decoupling of farm subsidies through CAP reform in Wales – a scoping study Working title: Current status, with reference to conservation grazing, of the Welsh Mountain (Section A) semi-feral pony – a scoping study Findings of a survey conducted in 2006 David Anthony Murray F.R.G.S. F.M.A. Earthwatch Institute Fellow Report 311006: Welsh Mountain pony 1 CCW Disclaimer: This is a report of research commissioned by the Countryside Council for Wales. The Council has a programme of research in scientific and other areas, which supports the development of policies and practical work. However, the views and recommendations presented in this report are not necessarily those of the Council and should, therefore, not be attributed to the Countryside Council for Wales. Author Disclaimer: The author has, within the limitations of available resources, presented as comprehensive an analysis as possible. In some instances, statistical and other information was contraindicated by conflicting statements, or corroboratory evidence was unavailable. Under these circumstances, the author has exercised his professional discretion in providing an accurate assessment. It is anticipated that, due to difficulties experienced in authenticating some evidence and due to the complexity of the issues involved, unavoidable ambiguities may arise. The author apologises for any inadvertent error that may have occurred in presenting information. Every effort has been made to represent the varied interests and views of all contributors, and to accurately present available public domain information. If any error of material fact has unwittingly occurred, the author would be pleased to receive notification. Interpretations of fact, views, conclusions and recommendations made by the author within this scoping report are not necessarily those of any contributor or interested professional body. 31st October 2006 © David Anthony Murray 2006 Front cover design is of a Welsh Mountain stallion and is based closely upon a photograph taken by the author of the stallion Cotebrook Ianto from a Dowlais Pony Improvement Society herd in June 2003 near Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. Front cover design © M. L. Murray / D. A. Murray 2006 2 Report 311006: Welsh Mountain pony Current status, with reference to conservation grazing, of the Welsh Mountain (Section A) semi-feral pony following decoupling of farm subsidies through CAP reform in Wales – a scoping study Working title Current status, with reference to conservation grazing, of the Welsh Mountain (Section A) semi-feral pony – a scoping study Findings of a survey conducted in 2006 David Anthony Murray F.R.G.S., F.M.A., Earthwatch Institute Fellow MATILDA (Ref: Welsh Mountain pony) P O Box 550 Leicester LE5 2WB Email: [email protected] Web site: www.matilda.boltblue.net Published by David Anthony Murray 31st October 2006 © Copyright David Anthony Murray 2006 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or quoted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author, David Anthony Murray. This publication may be viewed via the Internet at the above web site address. 3 Abstract This study, commissioned by the Countryside Council for Wales, examines the status in Wales of the Welsh Mountain (Section A) semi-feral pony in the context of the pony’s grazing role in the management of habitats to conserve biodiversity, post Common Agricultural Policy reform. The study also analyses the status of the Welsh mountain (unregistered) semi-feral pony. Presented evidence is based upon questionnaire surveys, tape-recorded interviews, telephone conversations, emailed interchanges and reference materials. A scoping study is necessary because the breed sub-population’s continued existence in its native habitats is seriously threatened and because the pony is likely to be increasingly needed to support conservation grazing programmes. Aims were to assess status indices of the breed sub-population: (i) negative factors affecting long-term survivability; (ii) funding sources; (iii) genetic, heritage and tourism values; (iv) genetic conservation strategies; (v) the pony’s potential as a conservation grazer; (vi) roles of government conservation agencies, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society (WPCS) and breeders; (vii) strategies to encourage use of the pony in grazing schemes; (viii) the appropriateness of equine welfare strategies; (ix) the desirability of initiating future investigations; (x) strategies to help ensure the semi-feral pony’s continued existence. A need to distinguish the Welsh Mountain Section A semi-feral pony from the unregistered Welsh mountain pony is explored and the WPCS Pony Improvement Scheme is assessed. The registered pony’s current feral status is inappropriate. The concepts of geographical, genetic and environmental isolation of Pony Improvement Society herds are examined in the context of genetic erosion by the voluntary stripping of assets. The registered pony’s rare vulnerable status and its population trend between 1981 and 2005 are appraised. Limited entitlements to subsidy of semi-feral pony breeders under existing agricultural schemes (the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) and Tir Mynydd) and agri-environment schemes (Tir Cynnal, Tir Gofal and the Organic Farming Scheme) are identified. Consequences and implications for the survival of registered herds of the 2006 Commons Act, horse passport regulations and the National Equine Database are considered. The crucial role of the Grazing Nature and Heritage Grazing Animals Project for Wales (PONT) is examined. Limitations of the Strategy for the Horse Industry in England and Wales, the Health and Welfare Strategy for the Horse, Pony and Donkey and The UK National Action Plan on Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR) are identified and the suitability of existing equine welfare guidelines is assessed. No study has comprehensively examined the Section A semi-feral pony’s grazing characteristics. No truly representative breed profile exists to assist land managers using equines for biodiversity conservation. Most ponies used in Welsh conservation grazing schemes are unregistered Welsh mountain ponies. This practice threatens the breed sub- population’s survival. Unregistered Carneddau herds represent unique heritage that could become recognised as an independent pony type or breed. Recommendations encompass: (i) an urgent need to define the term ‘semi-feral’ and to redefine semi-feral populations and sub-populations; (ii) desirable outcomes of the Pony Improvement Scheme; (iii) procedures under a proposed ‘Welsh Action Plan for FAnGR’; (iv) increased financial incentive for breeders through the SPS, through Tir Gofal as a ‘Native Breeds at Risk Grazing Supplement for Wales’, through a ‘hardy breed’ grazing supplement and as an agricultural animal and FAnGR; (v) removal of unregistered stallions from all Welsh commons; (vi) the describing of unregistered Welsh mountain ponies on passports as 4 ‘unverifiable breed’; (vii) anecdotal and empirical grazing capability research culminating in a Section A semi-feral breed profile; (viii) the sustainable use of registered, rather than unregistered, semi-feral native stock in grazing programmes; (ix) recognition by Government of the Carneddau Pony Society; (x) a corporate response to equine strategies, to be delivered by a proposed UK-wide council representing native and indigenous pony breeds; (xi) a proposed ‘Strategy for the Horse Industry in Wales’; (xii) Wales-wide consensus on welfare and husbandry practices, particularly body condition scoring for semi-feral ponies; (xiii) local grazing schemes that generate income for breeders and guarantee a sustainable supply of ponies; (xiv) the breed sub-population’s undervalued heritage and tourism potential; (xv) breeding protocols to conserve registered and unregistered genetic assets; (xvi) creation of a WPCS electronic resource to monitor demographic and geographical distribution trends; (xvii) an electronically stored stud-book; (xviii) stud-book kinship analyses and comparative DNA profiling; (xix) practical and financial encouragement of young farmer-breeders; (xx) needed long-term scientific research, including characterisation studies of breedlines, coordinated by a proposed ‘Welsh Mountain pony Survival Trust’. Some recommendations are applicable, in varying degree, to
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