Farmers in the Laxey and Dhoon area have complained that wild goats are causing big problems to their business.

The topic was recently raised during Tynwald when Daphne Caine MHK asked if any measures were being taken to prevent the population of wild goats from growing.

John and Sue Quilleash of Ballaragh Farm have had enough of the goats who frequently visit their land.

’There absolutely is a gigantic problem with the goats,’ said Sue. ’There have been terrible problems with our lambs, which have become ill or died after grazing on the fields that goats have got into. We’ve found them covered in ticks.

’This year we put 135 ewes into the field with the rams and only 65 sheep became pregnant, which has never happened before. We have done everything the same way, but don’t know if it’s something to do with the goats or not.

’I am a huge animal lover and it does make me upset to hear about the goats being culled, but it is for the best,’ she said.

Her husband, John, said: ’We’ve had to do a lot of fencing to keep them out, but they just wreck the fences by jumping over them. They also jump on the boulders near the coastal road and that may cause hazards for drivers.

’It needs to be clarified that the majority of people living in the village have had enough of them. Many of us have reached an agreement to have them culled if they’re on our properties. They not only cost us our flock, but they cost us time,’ he added.

Boosh Kerruish, who runs farm services on the island, said: ’When I was farming in Laxey, they were always climbing on the fences, which are gradually wrecked over time and that’s when livestock can escape.

’They carry diseases through the ticks from bracken and never get worming treatment, which can be passed on to other animals. We’ve got to treat our animals or we get prosecuted.

’There was a foot and mouth epidemic in 2001 and the government tried to help control the numbers, as it was thought that they were carrying the disease. They had the opportunity to cull them, but there was a public outcry.

’If people saw them up close and smelled them, they wouldn’t be so keen to have them protected. I think we need to get rid of the billies while they are small.

’Something needs to be done but who is going to take responsibility?’ he asked.