Farmer Banned From Keeping Livestock
Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service has secured a conviction against Mr Barry Taylor of St Helena Road, Polesworth, Tamworth.
Taylor has been banned from keeping animals for at least 4 years and fined £800 for offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and Cattle Identification Regulations 2007.
Taylor was charged following inspection visits by Animal Health Officers from Warwickshire Trading Standards Service and Veterinary Officers from Defra.
On the 6th December 2007, Animal Health Officers from Warwickshire Trading Standards Service and a Veterinary Officer from DEFRA visited Taylor’s farm.
At the premises the officers saw what they thought was the carcass of a dead cow, covered by a layer of straw. Upon further investigation officers saw that the cow’s eye was moving and it was still breathing. The cow was unable to move, it was too weak, and was clearly suffering and in a bad condition. The cow had to be euthanased humanely.
Further inspection by the officers revealed approx 28 cattle enclosed in a barn area standing in muck with no dry lying area for them. The cattle were in varying condition, some appeared malnourished. The cattle were of various breeds and ages, males and females were mixed in together. The cattle had no feed or water.
Over the next four months a number of visits were made to Taylor’s farm to check on the health and welfare of livestock. Few improvements were made. Some feed and water was available to some animals. One young bovine was found on several occasions wandering around the farm in an environment where it could injure itself on items of scrap and farm machinery left on the farm.
On 28th April 2008 the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) visited Taylor’s farm and found various discrepancies between Taylor’s herd register, BCMS records and the cattle present on the farm. .
Mark Ryder, Head of Warwickshire Trading Standards Service said: “We are pleased with the outcome of this case. We will continue to ensure that animal welfare standards are maintained and prosecute people when there are serious breaches of animal welfare laws.
Accurate cattle identification is essential in order to ensure traceability in the food chain and in case of a disease outbreak. It is not an option for people with livestock not adhere to the regulations.”
The case, brought by Warwickshire Trading Standards Service, was heard at Rugby Magistrates Court on 21st November 2008 and at Stratford upon Avon Magistrates Court, on 24th November and 2nd December 2008. Taylor pleaded not guilty to 6 offences relating to animal welfare issues but was found guilty of 4 of the 6. Taylor pleaded guilty to all 6 of the cattle identification charges.
The Magistrates did say that they found that Mr Taylor had not set out to cause suffering to the animals but the offences had occurred because he was unable to devote sufficient attention to them. As a result they imposed fines totalling £800 and a contribution towards the Prosecution costs of £200, plus the victim surcharge of £15, making a total of £1015.
A disqualification order, covering owning, keeping, participating in the keeping of animals and being a party to an arrangement under which he is entitled to control or influence the way animals are kept, dealing in or transporting animals was made for 4 years. An exception was made for dogs so that Mr Taylor can keep his own pet dog.