A FARMER who left cattle, sheep and a pig without food and in poor conditions, has been found guilty of significant animal neglect.
James Hunt, 23, from Louth, pleaded guilty to 11 offences relating to the welfare and registration of his cattle, sheep and a pig, at Boston Magistrates' Court.
Following three years of advice and help, an animal welfare investigation had to be launched by Lincolnshire Trading Standards.
Charges included:
Leaving cattle, sheep and a pig without food.
Dirty pens and no fresh bedding.
No grazing areas provided.
Keeping a pig permanently in a trailer.
Failing to identify livestock.
Breaching movement legislation for the sheep.
Ian Newell, service manager at Lincolnshire Trading Standards, said: "At the time of this investigation, Mr Hunt was providing no shelter to his animals from the wind, rain, hail and snow. The cattle were very weak and malnourished, and a pig was also found locked in a trailer.
"We asked him to improve the situation and to move the animals and feed them, but it was evident on a return visit that nothing had been done.
"Throughout the investigation and over preceding years, we tried to work with Mr Hunt, to support him and to try to help him improve his and his livestock's situation, but in the end, the only option was to prosecute him and recommend he be disqualified from keeping livestock again."
The Chairman of the Bench at Boston Magistrates' Court, presiding over the case, said: "There has been quite a significant level of neglect and the defendant perhaps misinterpreted the limits of his experience in committing offences over a length of time."
Paul Gethings, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency veterinary officer and expert witness, noted that this case did not deteriorate to the worst level of animal welfare offence, due to the timely intervention of Trading Standards, which prevented further suffering.
Hunt will be sentenced on October 21.
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