Six flocks of sheep in Drenthe will receive a total of 29,000 euros for the well-being of their rare heathland sheep. The money is intended for vaccinations, vet costs, extra food, wolf-resistant fencing or the purchase of special herd protection dogs.
This concerns the foundations the Drentse Heideschaap in Ruinen, Sheep Herd Exloo, Sheep Herd Westerbork, Sheep Herd Het Stroomdal in Schipborg, Schaapskooi Balloërveld and the Holtinger Sheep Herd. The animals of these foundations graze more than 5,000 hectares of nature and heathland areas with more than 2,500 heath sheep of the Drenthe heath sheep and Schoonebeker heath sheep breeds.
Five of the six foundations will receive 5,000 euros. Schaapskooi Balloërveld will receive 4,000 euros from the Dinamo Fund, an asset fund that was established because of ‘concerns about the deterioration of the living environment’. The money goes to projects for the welfare of rare heath sheep that, according to the fund, combat nitrogen damage and strengthen biodiversity through their grazing.
The support for heath sheep herds is necessary because their finances have been under pressure since corona, says The Dinamo Fund. This is firstly because income from public days such as sheep shearing festivals or lamb days disappeared. In addition, the export of wool to China stopped. Investments must also be made in anti-wolf measures. Finally, veterinary costs are increasing, partly due to the bluetongue virus.