Farmer gets livestock ban after lamb death
GoogleA farmer has been fined and banned from keeping livestock for 10 years after admitting to causing unnecessary suffering to a lamb.
Shaun Saunders of Lydney, Gloucestershire, was prosecuted for failing to treat a lamb suffering with flystrike, failing to apply for temporary land association, failing to dispose of two sheep carcasses and failing to notify movements of livestock.
Gloucestershire County Council took the 61 year old to court after receiving a complaint from a member of the public in October 2023 about the condition of the animals in Stow Field in Lower Lydbrook.
Saunders was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on Monday.
Following the complaint from the member of the public, a Trading Standards officer and a vet from the Animal Plant Health Agency visited the site.
During their inspection, they found a lamb so badly affected by flystrike, where flies lay their eggs on the animal's skin, that it died before the vet could euthanise it to prevent further suffering.
According to the council, the lamb had been clearly affected by the condition for several days without any treatment.
In addition to this, inspectors found two sheep carcasses in the field and several thin lambs, which were later treated by the farmer's own vet.
The court heard Saunders had gone away for several days, leaving the flock - which had not been inspected at for sufficient periods to monitor its welfare.
'Advice was ignored'
He had also failed to apply for a temporary land association and failed to notify livestock movements, despite receiving previous advice on these requirements several times in the past, the council said.
As well as the ban, Saunders was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £3,000 in costs.
Councillor Dave Norman, cabinet member for trading standards at the county council, said Saunders had been given advice about welfare issues, livestock movement and record keeping "over several years" but had ignored it.
"Due to the seriousness of the welfare case and the continued failure to follow the advice given, the decision to prosecute was appropriate," said Mr Norman.
"Our officers will continue to monitor animal welfare issues and ensure that the rules in place to help prevent the spread of animal disease are adhered to."
Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.