Farmer gets work order over 47 rotting sheep

A FARMER from west Wales has been ordered to pay more than £1,600 and carry out community service after 47 rotting sheep were found on his land.

Dylan Williams, of Neuaddlwyd Uchaf, Neuaddlwyd, Ciliau Aeron – nine miles west of Lampeter – pleaded guilty to four animal welfare and animal by-products offences after an investigation carried out by Ceredigion council.

When animal welfare officers visited the farm in April 2018, they found 47 sheep carcasses in various states of decomposition. These carcasses were accessible by other sheep and lambs that were still alive.

The council said the majority of sheep seen on the land were suffering from severe wool loss and irritated skin, signs of a debilitating condition known as sheep scab.

Two of the charges brought against Williams under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 concerned the causing of unnecessary suffering to two ewes – one of which was found unconscious with her intestines protruding from her body.

Another offence related to Williams not meeting the welfare needs of his sheep due to the fact that he failed to properly inspect the flock. He also failed to manage and treat the sheep scab effectively.

In total, there were three separate offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and one under the Animal By-Products Regulations.

“The council is saddened that yet another serious animal health offence has been committed within the county,” said Alun Williams, Ceredigion council’s corporate lead officer with responsibility for policy and performance.

“It is to the credit of our staff that they have undertaken a successful prosecution of this case.

“Our animal welfare officers and our legal team had no option but to carry the prosecution due to the seriousness of the offences committed. I would urge individual farmers who are facing difficulties in caring for their stock to seek advice from the county council and the farming unions.”

Williams, 47, appeared at Aberystwyth Justice Centre on July 10 and was sentenced to a community order with a requirement that he carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay a total of £1,648 to cover investigation and legal costs. He was not banned from keeping animals.

In February, two brothers from Bangor Teifi avoided jail after 58 dead cows were found on their land in a “truly shocking case of neglect”.