A HUSBAND and wife have been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a number of pigs and horses at a small agricultural holding in Fishcross.

Jane (45) and Neil Lafferty (47) were both fined a total of £490 and banned from keeping non-domestic animals for a period of two years.

The case was reported by Animal Health & Welfare Inspectors from Clackmannanshire Council, who carried out a visit to their premises during July 2012. They discovered adult sows, weaner piglets and horses being kept in wholly unsuitable conditions.

No feeding was available for the animals at the time of the visit. The two small fields on the holding consisted mainly of mud and areas of bare soil with small patches of heavily over-grazed grass and ragwort in full bloom, which is highly toxic to livestock.

The fields had been subdivided by a makeshift fence of wooden pallets and boards with protruding nails, and broken glass was present on the ground. The only accommodation consisted of an open-sided, ramshackle wooden shed which did not provide adequate shelter from the weather. The bedding was contaminated with dung, and a large number of rats were present.

The Animal Health & Welfare Inspectors served a Care Notice on the couple, requiring them to take immediate steps to improve the living conditions and safeguard the welfare of the animals.

However, when they returned to the holding a few days later, they found that nothing had been done. As a result, they took possession of the animals on welfare grounds and arranged for them to be moved to another location, where they could be looked after properly.

The courts subsequently ordered that the animals should be signed over to Clackmannanshire Council, and they have now been successfully re-homed.

On Tuesday 2 September at Alloa Sheriff Court, the couple admitted failing to meet the needs of several animals by housing them in an environment soiled with urine and faeces without adequate shelter, exposing them to broken wires and protruding nails on damaged fencing, and failing to protect them from injury, suffering and disease between 13 July and 23 August 2012 at Ochilvale Terrace in Fishcross.

Jane Lafferty pleaded guilty to failing to provide a suitable environment for three horses, whilst Neil Lafferty admitted failing to provide a suitable environment for three cross-bred sows and five weaner piglets.

Sheriff Mungo Bovey banned the couple, of Sauchie’s Braeside, from keeping non-domestic animals for two years and fined Jane Lafferty £140 and Neil Lafferty £350.

A Clackmannanshire Council spokesperson said, “In this case it was clear that the original owners did not possess the necessary skills or expertise to look after these animals properly, and they failed to seek appropriate veterinary advice. As a result the welfare of these animals was severely compromised.

“We hope that this conviction sends a clear message to those who are responsible for animals but fail to satisfy their basic welfare requirements.

“The law is quite clear on this point – you must be capable of ensuring that the needs of the animals are met to the extent required by good practice, and you must protect them from suffering, injury and disease.

“Looking after large animals requires a considerable commitment in terms of time and resources, and you should not take on this responsibility unless you are a competent stocksman and have an adequate knowledge of animal husbandry.”