A farmer who owns a butcher’s shop in Aberdeen has been banned from keeping livestock after a second conviction for “harrowing” animal welfare crimes.
Kerry McKenzie, 44, was sentenced at the city’s sheriff court after admitting six separate offences relating to the poor treatment of cattle. Aberdeenshire Council, which raised the prosecution, said McKenzie had created a risk of disease to both livestock and humans.
The crimes were committed at Greenhead and Old Wood farms at Drumligair, Newmachar, and Meadowhead at Dyce between February and March last year.
McKenzie owns K McKenzie Butchers in Sclattie Park, Bucksburn.
He admitted failing to feed and care for vulnerable animals, poor disease control, and indiscriminate breeding of livestock at the Aberdeenshire farms.
He also accepted a charge that he confined cows to buildings without proper drainage and bedding, exposing them to hazardous and sharp objects.
At Meadowhead, he admitted to neglecting basic animal husbandry. McKenzie, of Corsehill View, Dyce, was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Sheriff Kenneth Stewart also fined him a total of £850 for failing to keep correct records on his livestock, not informing the Scottish Government on the death of his animals and having carcasses on his land at Newmachar which had not been disposed of properly.
Ian Robertson, head of proactive services and waste management at Aberdeenshire Council said: “Animal health and welfare inspectors spent many months working on a harrowing case which saw animals mistreated and a situation that posed a disease risk to both animals and humans.
“Aberdeenshire Animal Health and Welfare Inspectors work continually to protect against farm animals’ suffering and to maintain the integrity and traceability of farmed livestock.
“We would urge anyone with concerns regarding livestock to contact the department so that animals and the public can remain safe in Aberdeenshire.”
McKenzie admitted similar offences in May 2013 and was banned at that time for two years.
He said at the time he had struggled to run the farms after his father had fallen unwell and that he was making no money from the enterprise.
Around 400 of McKenzie’s animals were taken and sold by Aberdeenshire Council after the state of the farms emerged.
A further 38 cows, which were not tagged, had to be shot as they could not be sold legally.
A spokesman for Aberdeen City Council, which regulates standards at butcher shops, said officials have not had any involvement with the Bucksburn store and that the investigation had been solely with regard to the farms.
McKenzie declined to comment when approached by the Press and Journal.