CROPS IN Scotland have fallen victim to a number of wild pigs, who have been spotted tearing up farm land across the country.

Scottish farmers have now warned the Scottish Government that the amount of these animals on the loose will eventually become unmanageable.

A report from the Scottish National Heritage was due to be released to Holyrood, regarding the wild boars, in July, with recommendations on how this could be dealt with. However, this was put back until November.

In June, the SNH had warned that if the Scottish Government did not act quickly on this issue, it would be impossible to get rid of the wild animals, as the numbers would become impossible to control.

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association commented: "Our understanding is that no decision has been made.

"However, if it was decided to let wild boar roam free, it would be very difficult to grant this without introducing a compensation scheme, like they have in many other European countries where boar are allowed to free range.

"In the Forest of Dean in England, there is now an annual population growth rate of 300 per cent.

"It would be inconceivable that there would be no agricultural damage.

"It is already being witnessed in the north west of Scotland and, given the problems with controlling boar, this will only increase over time as the population expands."

However, some farmers believe that the Scottish Government may not act, and that the boars will be allowed to continue to breed.

Perthshire wheat farmer, John Bruce, who is also the Scottish chairman of the British Deer Society, claimed that if the pigs are allowed to carry on roaming free, it will cause "chaos" for Scottish agriculture.

He said: "There are those who say pigs are marvellous for re-wilding the countryside and you get down to whether the government values farmers making use of the land in a manageable fashion or are they all for chaos, because they seem rather keen on chaos."

He highlighted compensation rates in other European countries, where 10,000 euros per hectare can be achieved for grass being grown for hay.

He continued: "That’s what it costs to re-establish a field of grass and suffer the loss for a year or two of a crop.

"If the government allows any creature which has a nuisance factor to re-establish, they should compensate and take responsibility for it."

National Farmers Union Scotland also said it was aware of the issue, and has been involved in drawing up the report.

It said it had concerns over the wild pigs breeding with domesticated animals, as well as the risk of disease spreading.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "We look forward to receiving SNH’s report and will consider its findings and recommendations carefully."