Scene of 'utter devastation' - neglect and death of 84 cattle

[Farfrae]

Not sure if this has been posted before but the photos are almost unbelieveable (sorry it's a crap website). Some neighbours must have had an idea of what was going on surely?

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/scene-utter-devastation-farm-sees-16132484

Edit: More photos here, truly harrowing IMHO

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/farmers-sentenced-after-dozens-cows-16137181

 

[unlacedgecko]

Absolute joke of a sentence.

 

[Highland Mule]

Not sure if this has been posted before but the photos are almost unbelieveable (sorry it's a crap website). Some neighbours must have had an idea of what was going on surely?

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/scene-utter-devastation-farm-sees-16132484

Really can’t understand how this sort of thing doesn’t get caught by the industry. Can we all agree to go visit one neighbour this weekend - just call to see how they are doing? I would bet my last quid that the farmers are struggling mentally and the farm next door knew they were a bit off, even if the full state of cruelty wasn’t recognised.

 

[linga]

Its beyond belief but what happens to people that allows them to treat animals like that?
In all the similar cases that I can remember the owner has had animals for years without problems and then it ends up like this.
These are not inherently cruel people, these are not inherently inhumane people. Why does it end up like this ?
The sentence is a joke but more effort needs to be put into understanding the reasons behind it so it doesnt happen in the first place

 

[linga]

Really can’t understand how this sort of thing doesn’t get caught by the industry. Can we all agree to go visit one neighbour this weekend - just call to see how they are doing? I would bet my last quid that the farmers are struggling mentally and the farm next door knew they were a bit off, even if the full state of cruelty wasn’t recognised.

I am sure you are right about their mental health and I am sure there is more to this than we read.

 

[Highland Mule]

I am sure you are right about their mental health and I am sure there is more to this than we read.

I’m sure there is.

I’m going to call by and see my nearest neighbours this weekend. Will you do likewise?

 

[Farfrae]

I am sure you are right about their mental health

Article (or rather a video) on the BBC today about this as it happens.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-47888402/farmers-struggling-with-mental-health

 

[linga]

I’m sure there is.

I’m going to call by and see my nearest neighbours this weekend. Will you do likewise?

We keep an eye out all the time and us and others have in the last year or two helped prevent something like this happening on a close by farm where the farmer was not coping very well.
We were lucky in that the farmer was receptive to intervention but that is not always the case I guess.

 

[Scholsey]

People must have had a idea what was going on at the place, any farmer who half expected there was welfare issues half as bad as this and didnt do anything about it is as guilty as the 2 that were charged! 10 years! they should be banned from keeping any animals for life and a % of their assets fine even if it meant having to sell the farm. The photo of the cattle dead in the cubicles is one of the most sickening things i have ever seen!

 

[linga]

We actually know of someone not so far away who we think needs some sort of intervention.
His animals are not exactly neglected nor ill treated but he cant be making money and we think his mental health is not so good.
We think he could have a better life and his animals would do better if he had some advice/help but we know he wont talk to us ( there is a story !), the authorities would not be interested as his animals are not that bad so we are debating the best way to get him a little help before any real problems arise.
And we dont want to set people on him anyway

 

[Farfrae]

We actually know of someone not so far away who we think needs some sort of intervention.
His animals are not exactly neglected nor ill treated but he cant be making money and we think his mental health is not so good.
We think he could have a better life and his animals would do better if he had some advice/help but we know he wont talk to us ( there is a story !), the authorities would not be interested as his animals are not that bad so we are debating the best way to get him a little help before any real problems arise.
And we dont want to set people on him anyway

Perhaps contact the charity in Pembrokeshire mentioned in that BBC video I linked to above?

 

[Highland Mule]

Perhaps contact the charity in Pembrokeshire mentioned in that BBC video I linked to above?

Or his vet practice, if you know them well enough?

 

[ollie989898]

This is a abject disgrace and I hope it weighs heavy on the conscience of anyone who had so much of an inkling of it. The fact someone is or may be mentally ill does not mean the passer by is not obliged to report that for the sakes of the animals and the owners.

This sort of thing happens more regularly than you think, I bet the majority of farmers and people who visit farms would report this kind of thing to the authorities even though they would not admit it here.

Apparently the RSPCA do not want to know about farm animals in this kinds of cases and the way in which trading standards have to go about this kind of issue is a lengthy process.

Why in the hell people who get into this situation continue to keep animals I have no idea. Sell the fudging lot.

 

[linga]

This is a abject disgrace and I hope it weighs heavy on the conscience of anyone who had so much of an inkling of it. The fact someone is or may be mentally ill does not mean the passer by is not obliged to report that for the sakes of the animals and the owners.

This sort of thing happens more regularly than you think, I bet the majority of farmers and people who visit farms would report this kind of thing to the authorities even though they would not admit it here.

Apparently the RSPCA do not want to know about farm animals in this kinds of cases and the way in which trading standards have to go about this kind of issue is a lengthy process.

Why in the hell people who get into this situation continue to keep animals I have no idea. Sell the fudging lot.

I am not sure that in this case anyone had any idea of what was happening. Its hard to imagine though.
Of course in this area we have yearly (at least )TB testing so that gives an opportunity for someone to assess the situation on any farm.

 

[ollie989898]

We actually know of someone not so far away who we think needs some sort of intervention.
His animals are not exactly neglected nor ill treated but he cant be making money and we think his mental health is not so good.
We think he could have a better life and his animals would do better if he had some advice/help but we know he wont talk to us ( there is a story !), the authorities would not be interested as his animals are not that bad so we are debating the best way to get him a little help before any real problems arise.
And we dont want to set people on him anyway

At what point is your concern for the animals outweighed by your fear of what the authorities will do to him?

A farm that has reached this level of whatever the hell you can call it, is clearly no longer farming for profit and is making a joke of all the legislation every livestock man on this forum must abide by. Not only that but it flies in the face of the entire profession who know full well this kind of thing is not on.

Allowing something to reach that state is bad enough, doing nothing about it and allowing it to persist for even one second is seriously bad karma in my book.

I hope no one comes out with the usual carp of: 'times are hard, no profit in the job' on this thread. This is a fudging disgrace to the profession.

 

[ollie989898]

I am not sure that in this case anyone had any idea of what was happening. Its hard to imagine though.
Of course in this area we have yearly (at least )TB testing so that gives an opportunity for someone to assess the situation on any farm.

Come off it, were both mother and son mentally ill at the same time?

It's incidents like these that reinforce my belief that perhaps people should have to apply for a license to keep livestock.

 

[linga]

Come off it, were both mother and son mentally ill at the same time?

It's incidents like these that reinforce my belief that perhaps people should have to apply for a license to keep livestock.

You are entitled to your opinion but it’s based on zero knowledge really.

 

[linga]

At what point is your concern for the animals outweighed by your fear of what the authorities will do to him?

A farm that has reached this level of whatever the hell you can call it, is clearly no longer farming for profit and is making a joke of all the legislation every livestock man on this forum must abide by. Not only that but it flies in the face of the entire profession who know full well this kind of thing is not on.

Allowing something to reach that state is bad enough, doing nothing about it and allowing it to persist for even one second is seriously bad karma in my book.

I hope no one comes out with the usual carp of: 'times are hard, no profit in the job' on this thread. This is a fudging disgrace to the profession.

I think you might be confusing two cases.
In the post you are replying to the standard of care is such that the authorities would not be interested.
The concern is ensuring it doesn’t reach that point

And for complete avoidance of doubt. In the case linked to by the op I would of course have gone to the authorities. I hope you were not suggesting otherwise.
It might be good if you could confirm you were not suggesting that

 

[unlacedgecko]

Come off it, were both mother and son mentally ill at the same time?

It's incidents like these that reinforce my belief that perhaps people should have to apply for a license to keep livestock.

80 and 55. Mother decrepit and Dom buckling under the strain of carrying for her and stock. It's easy to see how it could happen.

Not that is an excuse. They could be free of all stock with 2 phone calls, 1 to an auctioneer and 1 to a haulier.

 

[Headless chicken]

Come off it, were both mother and son mentally ill at the same time?

It's incidents like these that reinforce my belief that perhaps people should have to apply for a license to keep livestock.

I will reply fully to this thread later

Full disclosure I am now a tenant of the farm in this article.

I don’t know enough of the situation as I came in post this happening but did know them prior to this.

He asked for help but never received it was categorically what I was told. Now if he didn’t ask but this is what he believes I think that gives an insight to the mental well-being of the people in question.