Compensation is available to help farmers meet the costs of disposing of animals lost due to the current severe weather.

The Scottish Government has made available £500,000 to help meet costs incurred.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said, "The severe weather parts of Scotland have been experiencing just now has been making life extremely difficult for our hard-working farmers as they battle against the unseasonal conditions.

"Tragically, many will have incurred significant losses though the number of dead animals will not be known until the snow has thawed. I know this is deeply distressing for farmers to see so many animals suffering and dying, particularly during the lambing season which is normally a season of birth not death."

Farmers are reported to have incurred heavy losses throughout Western and Northern regions of the UK, which were hit by heavy snow towards the end of March. Unseasonably cold temperatures have delayed the thaw and exacerbated problems caused by the snow in parts.

Although there are fears that many animals may have been lost, farming unions have said the full cost of the late-winter weather will not be known until the snow has cleared and the damage can be assessed.  

Mr Lochhead added on Friday, "We are determined to provide what help and support we can and we will continue to assess what is needed in coming days and weeks."

Details of the scheme are still being finalised but it will work on similar principles to 2010. The amount payable per animal will depend on the number of casualties. To take advantage of the compensation scheme farmers need to be members of the Fallen Stock Company and have their animals collected by a firm which is also a member.