CATTLE passport offences when moving their livestock cost a pair of farming brothers more than £5,000 in fines.

A “comprehensive inspection” of 164 cattle belonging to brothers, Melvyn and Simon Madrell, found their business did not comply with regulations designed to prevent outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis and foot-and-mouth disease.

The pair, of Whorlton, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, admitted to several offences, including the failure to report the movement of more than 80 cattle, failure to register cattle births and deaths, not applying ear tags, and providing false information to the relevant authorities.

The Madrell’s business, JJ & GE Walton, moved the cattle from Barnard Castle to Hillhead Farm, in Northumberland, and Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council mounted a joint-prosecution against the brothers.

Melvyn Madrell, 47, pleaded guilty to taking the animals north, but denied knowing the paperwork or “cattle passports” were not supplied as his young brother was responsible for updating their registers.

Darlington magistrates accepted the eldest brother dealt with the practical side of the business and issued him a fine and court costs totalling £3,120.

Representing himself, Madrell told Darlington Magistrates’ Court: “I had no idea there was no paperwork.

“I never check that side of things because he’s (Simon Madrell) done that for 20 years and I had no reason to believe he hadn’t done that.”

Simon Madrell, 46, had been handed a six-month suspended sentence two days earlier and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work as well as pay £1,900 in fines and costs.

Catherine Hazell, prosecuting for Durham County Council, said “a vast number of offences” had been found during an inspection of the business in May 2014.

Durham County Council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection, Joanne Waller, said: “Anyone who keeps cattle is legally required to register them with the British Cattle Movement Service and movements must be recorded by the registered keeper.

“This is essential to support control and eradication of bovine diseases, it also protects consumers by making sure products entering the food chain are fully traceable and safe and it safeguards the UK trade of cattle and beef products on international markets.”