A PAIR of farming brothers from Rossett have been given suspended prison sentences after pleading guilty to a raft animal welfare charges.

Ian Martin Francis, 36, and brother Wilfred, 38, both of Yr Ackery Farm, Dark Lane, Burton, faced a total of 41 charges in relation to cattle; including, not informing the authorities about the death of several calves, as well allowing cows to feed on ice cream, mince pies and cupcakes.

Tim Dillon, prosecuting on behalf of Wrexham County Borough Council, told the hearing at Mold Magistrates how the brothers had been investigated by the local authority between August last year and May 2019. He explained how on one occasion in February this year, a vet and trading standard officers arrived on the farm to find a dog eating a dead calf, while Wilfred Francis was found to have euthanised another, by injecting it with an anaesthetic, which he was not authorised to do.

On another occasion, the authorities arrived at the 100 acre farm to find another young calf almost drowning in deep slurry, with its nose just about high enough out of the waste allowing it to breath and survive. As well as being fed an inadequate and poor diet, the cattle living on the farm were also denied access to proper drinking water and adequate bedding, with an array of scrap metals in the area also making it a particularly dangerous environment.

The brothers had also admitted to failing to notify the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) about the movement of their livestock within three days and the death of animals on the farm within the stipulated seven day time frame.

In total, Ian Francis admitted to twenty charges, including five counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by failing to seek veterinary attention, drinking water, clean and dry bedding and a suitable shed for birthing, all in February and March this year. His brother Wilfred admitted to 21 charges, which including the same five counts of causing unnecessary suffering, but admitted to the additional charge of administering the unauthorised anaesthetic between February 2-5 this year.

Emma Simoes, defending, told the court that her clients had been farmers their whole lives and how life had become more of a struggle in recent years, particularly after the death of their father three years ago. Ms Simoes said the farm had been previously had an emphasis on miking cows, but due to the rising costs and lack of profit to be made, money became tight and the brothers decided to move into rearing cattle for the purpose of their meat.

Ms Simoes said it was not unusual for the brothers to work 17-19 hour days while paying themselves just £90 a week and that corners had undoubtedly been cut before the authorities had become involved. She went on to say how the number of cattle on the farm had since been reduced from 140 to 40, with those taken away and sold on elsewhere costing the brothers approximately £15k. Ms Simoes said the brothers had taken on board everything that had been said to them and since the last visit in May this year, and had put changes in place.

District Judge Gwyn Jones said it was clear to him that the way the farm was being operated had resulted in its very commodity (the cattle) not being fully protected or at the forefront of the brothers’ minds. He told them they should have been concerned in keeping their prized stock in such circumstances and that they had failed to provide proper water and bedding.

District Judge Jones went on to say how many farmers may found the regulations around notifying the authorities of movements of their cattle to be “bureaucratic” but that it was important to ensure full traceability from the farmyard to the plate. While he appreciated the death of their father had clearly placed a strain on the day to day running of the farm, he said it did not provide them with an excuse not to comply with the regulations. He added there had been prolonged neglect of some animals and a high level of suffering caused to others, and how it had taken the brothers “some time” to improve the expected basic standards.

He said: “Members of the public are usually appalled when they discover instances were people are allowed to continue to operate where standards are not good enough, and because of that immediate custody is my starting point.

“However, I note that there have been no previous convictions and that you are well regarded in the farming community, while I appreciate the industry is no longer what it once was.”

The brothers were told they would each serve a term of 16 weeks in prison, but that both sentences would be suspended for a period of 12 months. Both will have to pay £3,000 towards the cost of the local authorities investigation.