A farmer in Co. Antrim has been banned from keeping commercial livestock for five years after being convicted of charges relating to the welfare of animals.
John Porter – with an address at Long Rigg Road, Nutts Corner, Crumlin, Co. Antrim – was convicted on eight charges at Antrim Magistrates’ Court.
The farmer also received a 4-month jail sentence on each charge, which has been suspended for two years, after he pleaded guilty to the offences, according to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
Porter pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to ensure the needs of animals – cattle and goats – were met to the extent required by good practice, as well as three charges of failing to comply with a duty imposed under the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (NI) 2012.
Meanwhile, the farmer also pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to dispose of an animal carcass, one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a bovine animal and one charge of failing to keep a goat register.
Young farmer convicted of transporting an unfit animal
Earlier this month, a 21-year-old farmer was convicted at Omagh Magistrates’ Court for transporting an unfit animal, DAERA added.
The Co. Tyrone farmer was convicted of one charge of transporting an animal that was not fit for the journey.
Ryan McElduff, from Creggan Road, Cranagh, Carrickmore, pleaded guilty at Omagh Magistrates’ Court on July 14 and received a conditional discharge for 18 months.
The case arose when the Official Veterinarian (OV) at an abattoir examined a cow presented by McElduff, according to DAERA.
The animal was allegedly bearing very little weight on its left hind leg and was showing signs of being in pain and distress.
The leg was submitted to the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) for examination and a pathologist reportedly concluded that there was an unstable fracture of the femur.
