A farmer from West Cumbria faces a £14,000 bill after pleading guilty at Whitehaven Magistrates Court today to 11 charges relating to the management of his cattle.
David Dixon from Rothersyke, Egremont was charged with two offences of causing unnecessary pain and distress to a cow, and 9 offences of failing to correctly ear-tag cows in his herd. He was fined £9,900 and ordered to pay £4,123 Prosecution costs.
The prosecution was brought by Cumbria County Council's Trading Standards department, who were assisted by officers from DEFRA and the Rural Payments Agency. The charges cover a period from 14 August 2004 to 13 February 2007.
The Chair to the Bench, Peter Donnelly, said: "With foot and mouth in mind, by your own admissions your systems were not up to scratch and it has cost you dear. We make no apologies for the level of fines. We all know the consequences of a poor system."
Phil Ashcroft, Head of Cumbria Trading Standards, said: "This comes as a timely reminder to all farmers of the importance of ensuring that cattle are correctly tagged and identified to enable full traceability in the event of a disease outbreak."
John Kelsey, Divisional Veterinary Manager at DEFRA's Carlisle Animal Health Office, said "Prosecutions under farm animal welfare legislation are only taken as a last resort where farmers have failed to appreciate the welfare rules."
ENDS
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337
Notes
Dixon pleased guilty to two welfare charges brought under the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968, three 'tagging' offences contrary to the Cattle Identification Regulations 1998, and six breaches of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.