Mr Gregory Boyd, Gortahar Road, Rasharkin, Ballymena was convicted at Coleraine Magistrates' Court on 4 April 2008.
He was convicted of eight charges under the Cattle Identification (Notification of Births, Deaths and Movements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and one charge under the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.
Mr Boyd pleaded guilty and was fined £675 plus £100 costs.
Notes to Editors:
- Mr Boyd was convicted of eight charges of, being the keeper of bovine animals, in contravention of Article 7.1 of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and Article 6.3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2629/97, and failing to notify the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the movement of a bovine animal off his holding in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 7 of the Cattle Identification (Notification of Births, Deaths and Movements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999, contrary to Regulation 5(1) of the said Regulations.
- Mr Boyd was convicted of one charge of failure to care appropriately without delay for an animal which appeared to be ill or injured or where it did not respond to such care, obtain veterinary advice as soon as possible for same, contrary to Regulation 13(1) (a) of the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and Section 2(1) of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 1972.
- Breaches of the Cattle Identification Regulations weaken and undermine the cattle traceability system in Northern Ireland, including the integrity of the Department’s Animal & Public Health Information System (APHIS) database.
- The Department gives high priority to the welfare of animals and operates a rigorous enforcement policy to ensure full compliance of regulatory requirements. Any breaches are investigated thoroughly and offenders prosecuted as necessary.
- All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, Tel: 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
