A FARMER who failed to dispose of two cattle carcasses correctly has been handed a suspended sentence. 

Michael Farndale pleaded guilty to a total of 22 offences under the Cattle Identification Regulations 2007 and two offences under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013.

He was given a six-month sentence for each offence to run concurrently, suspended for 18 months.

The offences related to five cattle whose passports were used in relation to an animal other than the animal for which it was granted, sixteen cattle that had no ear tags present and no holes where ear tags should have been applied, and failing to complete a cattle register in a format that was available at all times to the competent authority.

Farndale also failed to dispose of two cattle carcasses in the proper manner.

Dr Christopher Wood, the barrister acting on behalf of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, described to the court how officers were first made aware of issues on the farm when Environment Agency Inspectors found a partially burned cattle carcass in the middle of Farndale’s field in East Cleveland on Tuesday, February 6 2017.

When the Council’s Animal Health Officer visited the farm, the carcase had been removed and Farndale denied all knowledge of its existence. It was noted during this visit that several calves had not been identified with ear tags.

A full cattle check was carried out and a total of 16 cattle failed to fully comply with the cattle identification regulations.

Further investigation into the farms activities with the British Cattle Movement Service showed five sets of primary and secondary ear tags had been requested.

These beast had been sent to mart with appropriate passports, however, beasts were also found on the farm bearing the same identification; two of these had subsequently entered the food chain.

Farndale could not explain how this had happened, nor which beast belonged to the passport.

Mr Farndale also failed to keep a keep an up to date register for his cattle in an approved format and available to the authority upon request.

A further visit to farm in May 2017 identified bones and a beast carcase buried within farm and household refuse. Farndale could not explain how the beast had come to be there.

Although being told verbally to dispose of the carcase, followed by a request in writing, he still failed to dispose of it in the correct manner. It was only when a Notice was served on Farndale that the carcase was eventually removed from the farm and disposed of correctly.

The original beast identified by the Environment Agency is still unaccounted for.

The Northern Echo:

Councillor Lynn Pallister, Redcar & Cleveland Council cabinet member for Health, Housing and Welfare

Speaking after the Court Case Councillor Lynn Pallister, Redcar & Cleveland Council cabinet member for Health, Housing and Welfare, said: "This case underlines how seriously we take any flouting of cattle identification and animal by product laws.

"The safety of the public is always of paramount importance and anyone not complying with the law by posing a risk to the food chain and not disposing of dead animals correctly will be dealt with effectively.

"Our officers will continue to do all they can to protect public health when visiting and inspecting farming premises and will crack down on those that fail to keep their businesses in order."