A couple from Keith are facing allegations they mistreated more than 100 calves and left dozens of carcasses to rot on their farm.
Samuel Hessin, 49, and his wife Donna, 47, are facing four charges under the Animal Health and Welfare Scotland Act 2006, which state that they neglected some calves so badly they died.
Two charges allege that they caused animals unnecessary suffering by failing to meet their needs and another two state that they failed to dispose of animal by-products in an appropriate manner.
All the offences are labelled to have taken place at Balnamoon Farm, Grange Crossroads, near Keith, between August 8 and December 8 2021.
Alleged some cows died through neglect
Court papers alleged the couple did “by act or omission cause injury to 101 dairy calves, of which a number are now deceased, and cause unnecessary suffering in that you did fail to provide said calves with proper treatment and in particular adequate nutrition and hydration whereby a number of calves became emaciated and dehydrated”.
The charge further lists that the couple failed to seek veterinary treatment advice for those animals suffering from illnesses including pneumonia, septicemia, ectoparasites, diarrhoea, dermatitis, bovine warts, fungal skin infections, eye conditions including ruptured ulcers and recumbency to the point where many calves couldn’t even bear their own weigh.
The second charge states the same 101 calves were exposed to “inadequate surfaces” including faeces, scrap metal, general waste, pallets, broken woods – and other deceased calves in “various stages of decomposition”.
Lack of bedding and space are also cited as having caused unnecessary suffering.
Accused of leaving carcasses to rot
The penultimate charge alleges that the Hessins failed to properly dispose of 44 dead calves in a timely manner and instead left them on open ground and in sheds at the farm causing a risk to human health and exposure to birds and rats.
The final charge is similar but refers to 44 calves having been “slaughtered for human consumption” and then being left exposed on open ground to birds and rats.
The couple, of Balnamoon Farm, Keith, was not present in court and their case was continued without plea by the Crown.
The case will call again next month.
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