Neighbours kick up a stink over French farmer’s smelly cows

A FRENCH farmer has been ordered to pay his neighbours €102,000 (£85,000) in compensation after they complained his cows were too smelly.

Vincent Verschuere warned that he would be driven out of business following the ruling which has kicked up a stink in the agricultural community.

The 33-year-old breeder lost his appeal against an earlier verdict which found him guilty of causing “abnormal neighbourhood disturbances”.

Farmers across the country fear the decision will open the floodgates to a slew of similar complaints.

Mr Verschuere runs a farm near the picturesque village of Saint-aubin-enbray, 65 miles north of Paris.

He recently expanded his smallholding to accommodate 260 cattle, causing conflict with villagers.

The despondent farmer said this week’s hearing in the regional court at Beauvais was the “last chance” to save his business. “I am disappointed, it is a great feeling of injustice,” he said. “I don’t have that money in my account. This means the end of my farm.”

The ruling marks the end of a 10-year legal battle between Mr Verschuere and a group of nine villagers.

In 2010 he invested €600,000 on two new sheds covering 3,350 square yards.

He was given planning permission by the local prefecture, but three years later residents complained.

In its ruling the court said: “The building housing the cattle has a complete facade open to the outside, which does not allow any real insulation against the diffusion of odours and noise.”

The judges did not order the demolition of the buildings but said he must address the problem within three months.

Mr Verschuere said: “That means removing the animals from the sheds, so I can’t work anymore.”

Agriculture bosses warned the ruling could have a huge impact on the country’s dairy industry which is famed for its heart-shaped Neufchâtel cheese.

Luc Smessaert, vice-president of France’s national federation of farmers’ unions, said it has set a dangerous precedent.

He added: “We are in shock at this very bad sign given to the production of milk and meat.

“It’s a family farm which has made a big effort to integrate into the landscape.

“We can’t say ‘we have to eat local’ and block the activity of our own countryside.”