Latest estimates suggest that the freak weather seen in upland parts of the UK in March and early April killed almost 100,000 animals.

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According to the National Fallen Stock Company, the UK body responsible for retrieving animal carcasses from farms, fallen stock collections from January to April in the contiguous UK rose by 24 percent to 64,000 animals. Estimates from Northern Ireland suggest 29,000 animals died as a result of the late, heavy snow and prolonged cold weather, which delayed the thaw.

NFSCo said that, in total, 333,000 animals were collected over the first four months of the year in England, Scotland and Wales. Of these, sheep accounted for 240,000 head, (a 29 percent rise on 2012 figures) and cattle 93,000 (up by 12 percent compared to last year).

However, the company said that 'Special Services', where collectors offer deals on collection when losses are more numerous than normal, mean the actual death toll is probably higher than the official figures suggest. NFSCo said that, "Consequently the figures here will be a minimum, and will increase as new data is received."

Key NFSCo findings:

• English, Scottish and Welsh sheep losses in April were more than 50 percent higher in 2013 than 2012, with the severe weather claiming an estimated 35,000 additional lives
• In total, during April alone, a total of over 100,000 sheep died
• Cattle losses in Wales during April were more than double 2012 (up by 107 percent) at round 2,700 head – virtually the same as England alone, bringing the total to over 5,000 head.
• Cattle losses in England and Scotland in April were around a quarter more than 2012 (up 23 percent and 25 percent to 13,800 and 9,700 head respectively)

The governments of England and Scotland have made funds available for farmers hit by the effects of severe weather, with the Scottish government announcing an extra £6 million in relief funding on Wednesday. In Wales, farming groups have been highly critical of the government, which has made payments to rural charities, but not made direct funding available for farmers.

Nevertheless, upon announcing that the government would make payments of £500,000 to three farming charities in Wales, Natural Resources Minister Alun Davies was resolute. He said, "I have made clear that further subsidies are not the way forward for the industry either in the short-term or the long-term."