Benjamin William Thomas Elkin, 41, of Dayshill Farm, Narrow Lane, Stone, came before Cannock Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 7th, 2022.
Elkin admitted to several charges of moving a bull onto his farm without having the bull TB tested.
Furthermore, he did not complete the cattle passport within 36 hours of moving it onto the farm. Moreover, he admitted that he failed to report the death of another animal.
When Staffordshire County Council’s animal health officers visited his farm in January of last year, they found “a large white bull in the pens”.
Elkin admitted he had not been recorded onto his farm and stated that the bull had not been TB tested.
When the officers checked his records, they found that one other animal had died on his farm.
However, he had notified it within 7 days to the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS).
The officers checked other cattle, and the farmer agreed to send these animals to slaughter straight away.
The court heard that Elkin cooperated with the authorities throughout the investigation.
The judge ordered the farmer from Stone to pay £8,646 in fines and costs.
TB
Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“We are pleased that the court has reached a successful conclusion. This sentence sends out a clear message that our animal health team will take action against those who break the law in such a manner.”
“Our animal health team works hard to make sure that livestock is looked after properly and that the controls put in place to limit the spread of disease are strictly adhered to.”
“Animal diseases such as Bovine Tuberculosis and BSE cost the farmers and taxpayers huge amounts of money. They can have a devastating effect on herds that have been built up over many generations.”
“It is vital that livestock keepers stick to these rules and ensure they don’t put the livestock industry at risk from the uncontrolled spread of animal diseases,” Wilson concluded.
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