A FARMER has been prosecuted after a cow was found shivering and hypothermic in a Warwickshire field.
Trading Standards officers investigated the conditions of cattle grazing on land in Hunningham near Leamington following a complaint.
They discovered a cow lying down in the mud and unable to stand. She was described as very thin, shivering and hypothermic.
The disturbance of the earth around her indicated she had tried to get up but had not been able to stand. The cow was euthanised on the farm on the advice of a vet. A post mortem indicated she had been suffering stomach problems from eating a poor diet of very dry straw.
In a nearby enclosure, among live animals, officers also found five cattle carcasses which had been there for some time. To prevent the spread of disease, dead animals must not be left where other animals and wild birds could have access to them.
Owner Ewan Wells, a tenant farmer residing on a farm on Main Street, Hunningham, pleaded guilty to two offences under The Animal By Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013, four offences under The Cattle Identification Regulations 2007 and one offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The 62-year-old was fined nearly £1,700, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge and a £4,000 contribution toward prosecution costs.
Warwickshire County Council’s community safety spokesman Coun Andy Crump said: “Warwickshire has a large farming community and Trading Standards works closely with them to ensure livestock is healthy, disease risks are reduced and the human food chain is protected.”
“The vast majority of farmers are very happy to follow the advice and guidance we provide, but in the small number of instances where the health of livestock and human health is put at risk, it’s important that we take firm action.”
Magistrates stated that if Mr Wells were to be found guilty again he would likely face a banning order.
In mitigation, Lee Marklew representing Wells, stated his client had been a farmer since 1978 and had smartened up his act.
