Ex-sheep farmer speaks out ahead of Easter as campaigners urge public to “Skip the Lamb”

An ex-sheep farmer who once raised animals for slaughter is speaking out ahead of Easter, urging the public to reconsider eating lamb as new data highlights how demand continues to drive the killing of young animals.

Animal Justice Project is releasing a new video interview with Devon-based former farmer Sivalingam “Kumar” Vasanthakumar, who gave up sheep farming and took his entire flock to sanctuary before transitioning to a plant-based livelihood.

Sivalingam Vasanthakumar was previously featured by BBC News when he made the decision to leave farming behind. He now grows vegetables on his land and runs a vegan street food business, Kumar’s Dosa Bar, using largely home-grown produce.

His story is told in a new film, A Change of Heart: From Sheep Farmer to Vegan, released by Animal Justice Project over Easter weekend.

“I saw them as individuals,” Kumar says in the film. “Once you see that, you can’t continue as before.”

Data reveals demand-led killing — including around Easter

New analysis of 2025 slaughter figures from the Food Standards Agency shows that 11.5 million lambs were killed last year and of those, 893,336 were killed in April, coinciding with Easter demand. This means almost 8% of annual lamb slaughter, or 1 in 13 lambs killed last year, were killed in April for the bank holiday weekend.

While this is lower than peak periods later in the year, it remains higher than surrounding months and reflects the continued cultural association between lamb and Easter.

By comparison:

– June saw 1,106,894 lambs slaughtered, as early-season lambs reach market weight and demand increases

– Even higher peaks occur later in the year, driven by large-scale retail demand

Animal Justice Project says that while Easter does not produce the largest spike, it remains a key moment where consumer choice directly influences the number of animals killed.

Claire Palmer, Founder of Animal Justice Project, said:

“Easter is often seen as a time of renewal and compassion, yet it’s still associated with eating lambs — animals who are only a few months old when they’re killed.

The data shows that whenever demand rises, more animals are slaughtered. Easter may not be the biggest spike, but it’s one of the most symbolic — because it’s driven by tradition, even though people have a clear choice not to eat animals.”