Farmer is fined for neglecting animals (From The Northern Echo)

Farmer is fined for neglecting animals

8:15am Saturday 26th September 2009 in

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A FARMER has been fined for neglecting his cattle after they were found covered in excrement without anywhere dry to lie down.

John James Stubbs, from Bluestone Grange Farm, in Marwood, Teesdale, appeared before magistrates in Bishop Auckland yesterday and admitted two charges of failing to ensure the cattle had access to a dry or well-drained laying area in their barn. Both charges date from March 18.

The 60-year-old, who has 45 years of farming experience, also admitted failing to apply identity tags to some calves, born last November, within 20 days of their birth.

Gill Proud, prosecuting on behalf of Durham County Council, told the court that trading standards officers served improvement notices on the farm after they visited the premises in January and February, and became concerned that nine cows and a bull were being kept in unsuitable conditions.

Ms Proud said there was nowhere dry for the animals to lie down in the barn because the straw was wet, and that there was faeces and urine all over the ground.

She said: “The animals were covered from their legs to the underbelly in faeces and urine, indicating they had lain in their own muck.

“Some of it had dried onto them in clumps.”

Stubbs told officers he had been unable to buy straw and was trying to make his remaining few bales last until the summer.

John Turner, in mitigation, said: “There were huge problems with the wheat straw harvest last year, particularly in Durham, after a very wet summer and autumn, which caused a shortage of straw.

“The defendant was unable to buy any. He says he cleaned the areas most days, but found it very difficult to manage.”

Magistrates fined Stubbs £670, and ordered him to pay £997 in costs.