Can open farms still provide lamb cuddling activities?

The rare breeds farm owners said it was brought to their attention that there has been a change to the code of practice governed by the National Farm Attractions Network based on the Health & Safety Executive advice.

They explained: “Open farms are no longer allowed to offer lamb cuddling activities. We have been offering lamb holding for 25 years and are beyond saddened that we can no longer offer this amazing experience to our visitors.

“What we can offer is to meet the lambs and learn all about them from our friendly staff. We will still be running the bunny barn as well as the pig, pony and goat grooming throughout the half term as normal.

“If you have already visited us this half term, please do not be concerned. We had implemented additional hygiene measures to ensure that the lamb holding could be carried out safely. We also were testing the lambs, which have all come back negative for E. coli and Cryptosporidium.”

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Lamb cuddling to be continued

However, following an “overwhelming response” from the local community, Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm has decided to continue providing the much-loved lamb holding experience.

The owners said that the news provided by The National Farm Attractions Network has had a “huge impact” on their family, staff and visitors.

They added: “Yesterday evening I was contacted by several organisations, one of whom we worked very closely with last year who were shocked by the ‘new’ update to the industry code of practice.

“After extensive conversations and further re-reading the industry code of practice and the information on the HSE website, we have taken the decision to continue with our lamb holding activities as we are not in breach of the industry code of practice.

“We apologise for the distress this has caused, and we look forward to continuing our lamb holding experience which we have been doing for the last 25 years.”

Minimising risk of catching illness

The National Farm Attractions Network, which is the representative body of farm attractions in the UK, explained to Farmers Guide that its Industry Code of Practice is a framework of guidance in place to protect members of the public from harm.

“Some farm animals may carry germs that can cause illness in humans, and appropriate safety measures should be followed to minimise risk.

“Whilst the Industry Code of Practice does not specifically rule out lamb cuddling as an activity, the guidance contains several pieces of advice that would make lamb cuddling potentially a high risk for cross-contamination.

“Visitors who allow animals to come into direct contact with their clothing and footwear – particularly young lambs – risk carrying harmful germs away with them. These germs cannot be effectively removed and may lead to further cross-contamination, affecting subsequent activities such as handling food and drink or using play equipment.

“NFAN’s position is that the code of practice would suggest that the risks associated with lamb handling/cuddling would mean it should not be offered. NFAN believes testing animals for these pathogens does not remove the risks, as the tests only reflect the status of the animal at the time the test sample is taken.

“There are many safe ways to offer interactive activities, such as bottle feeding, which can be safely managed when contact is limited to visitors’ hands. In these cases, appropriate handwashing facilities are provided to minimise the risk of cross-contamination,” a spokesperson for the National Farm Attractions Network said.

They added that last year, a number of severe outbreaks of illness were linked to lamb cuddling events at several venues that were not following the Industry Code of Practice, which resulted in dozens of visitors being hospitalised.

“These incidents highlight the importance of adhering to best practices in animal interactions to protect public health.

“Each year, over 25 million people have safe and enjoyable visits to open farms. Visitors seeking reassurance should look for farms that are part of the National Farm Attractions Network (NFAN) AAA (Animal Attraction Assured) scheme, which signifies compliance with high safety and hygiene standards.

“For further information, we encourage visitors to check the guidelines and choose farms that prioritise both animal welfare and public safety,” the industry body has concluded.

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