A FARMER who kept cows and pigs in appalling conditions alongside dead carcasses has been banned from keeping the animals for 10 years.

The livestock were kept in deep muck with nowhere dry to lie down and were reduced to eating plastic wrapping from their fodder.

Keith Barber of Joys Green, Lydbrook, was also sentenced to 18 weeks in prison suspended for two years and ordered to pay £2,500 towards prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £115.

He admitted eight animal welfare offences when he appeared before Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on Monday, January 28, plus seven other offences involving dirty feeding troughs, the failure to dispose of dead animals properly and breaches of cattle identification regulations.

The court heard that animal health inspectors from Gloucestershire County Council Trading Standards visited Barber’s farm last April after a tip off from a member of the public, and found cattle and pigs being kept in unsatisfactory conditions.

Some of the cows had extensive hair loss and many were very thin, while a dead calf and dead pigs were also found on the premises. Officers were particularly concerned that one pig carcass had been there for so long that only the skeleton remained. 

Cattle were seen eating plastic wrapping from their fodder when no other food was available, and when food was provided, space at the trough was so tight cattle were seen jostling each other as they fought to get to the feed. 

Magistrates were told that sows and piglets were kept in a shed with high ammonia levels and had no access to clean drinking water, while other pigs had no water or dry lying area.

Trading Standards investigators called vets from the Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) and returned to the premises the following day, when Barber was advised of the actions he needed to take to make sure the welfare needs of his animals were met.

An APHA vet and a Trading Standards inspector visited the farm over the next few months to check on the welfare of the animals, but although limited improvements were made to reduce ammonia levels in the sow shed, animals were still found without any access to dry bedding.

Pigs were also found without water and living in pens which were smaller than the minimum requirements in breach of animal welfare legislation.

Barber also failed to apply ear tags to calves within 20 days of their birth, despite being advised several times by Trading Standards that this was a legal requirement and vital to ensure consumer confidence in British beef and the integrity of the human food chain.

Passing sentence, the magistrates said Barber had a “cavalier attitude towards the welfare of his animals”.

Cllr Dave Norman, cabinet member responsible for trading standards, said: “Gloucestershire Trading Standards inspectors and most responsible farmers take pride in maintaining animal welfare standards in the county.

“It is so essential to make sure the integrity of the human food chain is maintained by farmers correctly identifying their cattle, as well as making sure that all animals are well looked after.

“In this case Mr Barber has failed in his duty of care to his animals, despite receiving advice from Trading Standards, leaving us with no option other than to prosecute.” 

The court heard that Barber had previously received advice from Trading Standards regarding the need to care for his animals and the fact that the poor drainage at the site made some of his sheds unsuitable to house livestock.

He had also previously signed a formal caution in relation to failing to identify calves born on his holding within the required time limits. 

A Gloucestershire Council spokeswoman said after the hearing: “Members of the public who want to report concerns about animal welfare standards in the county, or other potential breaches of trading standards regulations, are encouraged to contact the trading standards helpline 03454 040506.”