A farmer from near Callington has been banned from keeping farmed animals for 10 years by Cornwall Magistrates.

Officers from Cornwall Council’s Animal Health Team and a vet from DEFRA visited Arthur Jasper’s farm at South Hill on March 4 this year. They discovered most of the animals were kept in unacceptable conditions.

Mr Jasper, 74, appeared before District Judge Matson at Bodmin Magistrates Court on Friday, September 25, and pleaded guilty to: Failing to provide adequate care to a calf with an infected ear; failing to protect cattle from dangerous objects; failing to investigate the reasons for emaciation in young cattle; failing to control a rat infestation; and failing to provide clean water, bedding or perches to poultry.

Kevin Hill, prosecuting for Cornwall Council, informed the Court that many of the housed young cattle were very thin and stunted and yet had no feed.

One calf had an infected ear, and pus could be seen oozing from the infection, but its ear had been sprayed with antiseptic rather than treating it with antibiotic.

The outdoor cattle also had access to scrap and collapsed fencing. Poultry were shut in a muddy pen with filthy water and had no clean bedding. Rat runs and footprints were seen all over the farm.

Barry Hilliard, representing Mr Jasper, informed the Court that the wet weather had caused the poultry runs to get waterlogged, that Mr Jasper had attempted to treat the thin calves, the infected ear and control the rats, but clearly hadn’t tried hard enough. Furthermore, he had very little income and was dependant on his pension to be able to finance the farm.

The Court heard that Mr Jasper had previous convictions in 2018 for similar offences.

The District Judge gave credit for the early guilty plea and genuine remorse, however felt that Mr Jasper was no longer capable of running a farm. Due to the previous convictions, Mr Jasper was banned from keeping and owning farm animals for 10 years, and the judge warned Mr Jasper that if he breached the ban he would be sent to prison.

Mr Jasper also had to pay a fine of £225, a victim surcharge of £32 and £100 towards the Council’s costs.

Jane Tomlinson, Head of Trading Standards for Cornwall Council, said: “Mr Jasper was born and raised on his farm, but as he advanced in age he became unable to properly care for his animals. Over the years the Council and Defra have provided him with considerable advice, but it was ignored.”

Councillor Rob Nolan, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for Public Protection, said: “Where officers find repeated non-compliance or a complete disregard for farm animal welfare, the Council will take formal action to protect animals and the reputation of the Cornish farming industry.”