Sheep farmers have raised concerns about proposals to reintroduce the lynx, which became extinct in the UK more than 1,300 years ago.

The Lynx UK Trust last year launched a national consultation for farmers and landowners on a trial reintroduction of the predator at several UK sites including Thetford Forest.

A report for the trust suggested the Eurasian lynx's return in just two areas would deliver net benefits of £68m over 25 years, boosting eco-tourism, keeping deer numbers under control and improving crop yields, wildlife and forestry.

And it claims there would be minimal negative impacts on farming, as lynx prefer to hunt deer rather than livestock or domestic pets.

But a report by the National Sheep Association (NSA) raises concerns that the introduction of the predator would jeopardise the 'already fragile state' of the sheep farming industry.

Phil Stocker, NSA chief executive, pointed to the similarities between the threat the lynx would pose to sheep and lambs and the issue of dog attacks on the animals.

He said: 'We know first-hand of the revulsion the public feels towards dog attacks, but there is an assumption within the plans for a lynx release programme that it's OK for the lynx to kill and maim sheep. Attacks by dog cause sheep to miscarry their unborn lambs, to be separated from baby lambs once they are born, and to fail to thrive due to high levels of stress. It would be same with the lynx.'

On launching its lynx report, the NSA invited Swedish sheep farmer Tomas Olsson to speak about his experiences with predators like the Eurasian lynx.

He said: 'It's like a stick of dynamite with a very long fuse. First the roe deer go, then your favourite cat disappears without you realising, and then they start to take sheep.

'It's the pressure of living with it. You wake up every morning, go outside and find dead sheep that you have spent so much time improving through your breeding programme and caring for through lambing time – just in order to feed the lynx.'

The case for the lynx

The Lynx UK Trust said: 'Reintroducing lynx here does mean that some sheep will become prey, but the vast majority of European evidence suggests it will be a very small number simply because lynx and sheep tend to very different habitats, and we will have a compensation scheme that really does what it's supposed to for the times when they come together.

'How much risk, it's impossible to say; the really important thing is what we plan to do about it. Even if it's just one sheep, British farmers have a pretty hard time of things already, and a sheep lost is money lost. There must be generous compensation, above the market value.

'Some fears have been raised that farmers will simply wake up to missing sheep with no evidence left to claim compensation on, but throughout the trial every lynx will be radio collared; the type of collar that regularly transmits GPS position to a satellite. If a herd is visited by a lynx, the footprints will be very clear in that data. We want to make sure the compensation works for farmers because we want a successful reintroduction – the two go together.

'We certainly believe that with a pro-active approach to finding solutions, working really closely with farmers and landowners, and a considerable deer density in many parts of the UK, everyone could be in for a pleasant surprise.'

How would the potential return of the lynx affect your business? Contact chris.hill@archant.co.uk.