Farmer fined for leaving dead sheep in a barn for a week

Aug 8 2008 by Ben Guy, The Journal

A FARMER who caused a public health risk by failing to properly dispose of dead sheep has been fined.

Paul Borrowdale, 41, of High Moralee Farm, Wark, Northumberland, allowed the carcases of 13 animals to lie in a barn for up to a week this February.

Tynedale Magistrates’ Court heard how Borrowdale’s failure to properly dispose of the dead animals had risked both public and animal health.

Prosecuting on behalf of Northumberland County Council Trading Standards, Paul Dunn told the court that there was no reason for the animals not to have been dealt with properly.

He said: “These are important regulations that relate to public health and have been in existence in one form or another for some time.

“The reason that we have them is important for two reasons. The first is public health ... it can directly influence the health of humans.”

Mr Dunn went on to outline how the carcases could also have increased the risk of foot-and-mouth disease in animals.

He told the court that council animal welfare inspectors had been called to the farm on February 22 after a complaint from a member of the public about the carcases.

The court was shown a video, taken by the inspectors, which showed the dead animals scattered around the barn.

The sheep had died of pneumonia and had been put in the barn after Borrowdale found them in a field on the farm.

Mr Dunn also said that Borrowdale has a previous conviction, from 2005, relating to the failure to properly register cattle.

Defending the farmer, who admitted the charge, Alistair Graham said it had never been his client’s intention not to dispose of the dead animals.

He told the court that because of the icy weather at the time, the farmer had considered it too dangerous for vehicles to come and collect the dead animals.

He said: “There is a steep road that leads to the steading, it sweeps round and there is a river below it.

“When the land is frosted and the road is icy, it is impossible to get up and down there safely. It is for that reason and for that reason alone that he did not seek to have the sheep transported off the farm.”

Normally a farmer would pay an animal collection firm to come and collect the carcases, and the court heard that this would have cost Borrowdale about £17 per animal.

Mr Graham went on: “He would refute the suggestion that he somehow was going to dispose of the animals in the wrong fashion.”

He added that as the week in February went on, Borrowdale had had to deal with a difficult calving cow, as well as problems with his wife’s pregnancy that required a trip to hospital.

Chairman of the bench Charles Enderby fined Borrowdale £1,000, with a £15 surcharge, and told him to pay £800 costs.

When the land is frosted and the road is icy, it is impossible to get up and down there safely